
Class 

Book _ 



COPYRrCKT DEPOSIT 



MEMOIRS 



OP 



Hon. ELIJAH STANSBURY. 







ai_ 



. 




rJ e^'t^<y9-~^ ^^Q/1^.A^^ 



V'-^i^ccyA^ ^/^..-rxA 



THE 



LIFE AND TIMES 



Ho^. ELIJAH STANSBURY, 



An ''Old Defender" and Ex-Mayor of Baltimore; 



TOGETHER WITH 



EARLY REMINISCENCES, 



Dating from 1662, and Embracing a Period of 212 Years. 



BALTIMOliE: ^ 

Printed by John Murphy & Co. 

182 Baltimore Street. 
18 7 4. 






€nttrrl) arcorbing to ^rl of Congrrss, iit t^t ytar 1874, bij 

Archibald Hawkins, 
in i)st Gffift of fist librarian of Congrrss, at Masl&inglon. 



PREFACE. 

In writing tliis introduction, we deem it scarcely necessary to 
remind the intelligent reader of the many brave and useful men 
whose valarous deeds and valuable public services have been 
suffered to pass into utter oblivion, because the hand of friend- 
ship and earnest affection had failed to stamp them on the historic 
page. It is true that Elijah Stansbury has never distinguished 
himself on the battle field as a renowned military chieftain, such 
as a Washington, Lee, or a Jackson; nor has he been known to 
figure in the halls of legislation as a great orator or statesman, 
such as a Clay, Webster, Pinkney, or a McMahon — yet he has, 
in his sphere, rendered valuable service in his day and genera- 
tion. Appreciating that service, and impelled by good motives, 
the following pages are written with a lively hope and an earnest 
desire of perpetuating the memory of one whose successful and 
useful life should be held up to the present and rising generation, 
as well as posterity, to be studied as an example worthy of imita- 
tion. Mr. Stansbury's sands of life have nearly completed their 
course, the venerable man being now in his eighty-third year, 
and one of the very few "Old Defenders" yet surviving; 
therefore it is but reasonable to conclude that he will not be with 
us much longer, and it is now while remaining with us we have 
thought it eminently proper to utter this humble and sincere 
testimonial of regard for one who, as a true patriot, had been 
from his youth devoted to this city and his country's noble 
cause, like his brave and honored predecessors in the Mayoralty, 
Captain John Montgomery and General Samuel Smith, whose 
names, as well as those of many other distinguished cotempo- 
raries, are recorded gratefully in the volume. In compiling we 
have interwoven some of the most interesting and important local 
events of Baltimore city during the present century, together 
with reminiscences as far back as 1662. The events of this 
century include a minute account of the Battle of North 
Point — some incidents never recorded before — the three Floods 
OF Jones' Falls, independent of the firet one 1786. The Grand 
1* V 



VI TREFACE. 

Reception of Lafayette as the " Nation's Guest," and a de- 
scription of the Brilliant Illumination, 1824. The Grand 
Military, Masonic and Civil Procession in 1828, commemo- 
rative of haying the First Stone of the Baltimore and Ohio 
Kailroad, by the venerable Charles Carroll of Carrolton, 
aged ninety-one years, the last surviving signer of the Declara- 
tion of Independence. The Falling Meteors in 1833. The 
Notorious Mob of 1835, in which the Hon. Reverdy John- 
son, John B. Morris, Esq., and other gentlemen had their 
property most outrageously destroyed, and to compensate whom 
the Maryland Legislature afterwards so promptly and justly 
passed the Indemnity Act. The Inauguration of Morse's 
Electro-Magnetic Telegraph, 1844. The Grand Recep- 
tion of the noble Hungarian Patriot Kossuth, 1852; Something 
new and interesting about the Star Spangled Banner ; 
together with some very interesting and useful statistics, all of 
which as a local historical group, with its lights and shadows, we 
trust will interest the reader and render this an acceptable if not 
a faultless volume. We think it fit and proper to say here that 
this book is not published for mere speculation, the number issued 
being very limited, Colonel Stansbury having no pecuniary 
interest whatever, in the sale of it either directly or indirectly, 
he being, as is well known by this community, entirely indepen- 
dent in his circumstances and perfectly free from the hankering 
desire for gain, or haunted by the " lust of lucre and the dread of 
death." This statement is voluntarily made, unsolicited by the 
Colonel whom the writer knows to be extremely sensitive regard- 
ing matters of that kind. Mr. Stansbury's Messages, with the 
accompanying documents, are given to show the flourishing con- 
dition of Baltimore during his administration. 

In the local elections we have thought proper to give the 
returns in detail, with the names of all the candidates; also the 
names of the committees appointed at the various meetings and 
on the military and civic balls, &c., believing that the lists will 
prove very interesting to the survivors — doubtless reviving the 
" fond though sad memories of by-gone days." 

ARCHIBALD HAWKINS. 

Baltimore, March 12th, 1874. 



CONTENTS. 

Chapter I. 

PAOE. 

Birth of Elijah Stansbury — His Ancestors — The Youthful 
Captain — His Habits and Peculiarities — His Voluntary 
Apprenticeship 13 

Chapter II. 
The War of 1812 — Patriotism of the Baltimoreans — The 
"Old Maryland Line" — General Mordecai Gist — General 
Otho Williams — His Capture — Cruel Treatment by the 
Enemy — Appointment as Collector of thp Port of Balti- 
more by Washington— Colonel John Eager Howard — His 
Bravery at the Battles of Camden and ''The Cowpens " — 
Chosen Governor of Maryland— General Samuel Smith — 
His Gallant Defence at Mud Fort — Forty Years in Con- 
gress, «S:c 19 

Chapter III. 

The Battle of North Point — Mr. Stansbury Volunteers though 
Lame — Captain John Montgomery his Commander — Union 
Artillery — Major-General Ross — Admiral Cockburn — Gen- 
eral Strieker — Colonel Paul Bentalau — General Winder — 
Virginia Militia — United States Cavalry 24 

Chapter IV. 
The Bombardment of Fort McHenry — Major Armslead — 
Fort Covington — City Battery — Lazaretto — Commodores 
Rodgers and Barney — Colonel Brook — Major Frailey's 
Report of the Killed and Wounded, &c 31 

Chapter V. 

Captain Montgomery as State's Attorney — His Noble Vindi- 
cation of his Young Friend Stansbury — Captain J. S. Stiles 
— Banquet at Watkin's Hotel — Battle Monument — Colonel 
Samuel Moore — Governor Veazy — Lieutenant Stansbury... 48 

vii 



via CO^'TENTS. 



Chapter YI. 

PAGE. 

Battle of Life — Mr. Stansbury as a Builder — His Marriage — 
His Political Principles — First Entrance into Public Life — 
His Gallant Commander is Elected Mayor of Baltimore — 
Mr. Stansbury and several other Defenders Elected to City 
Council, &c 53 

CnAl'TER YII. 

Ecception of Lafayette — His Arrival at Fort McHenry — 
Charles Carroll of Carrolton — Colonel Hindman — George 
Washington Lafayette — Monsieur Le Vasseur — Society of 
Cincinnati — Washington's Tent — Alexander McKim — 
William Patterson — Samuel Hollingsworth — Nathaniel 
Levy — Campaign in Virginia, 1781 — De Kalb Cadets — 
" Gratitude " — " Triumph of Liberty" — Brilliant Illumina- 
tion at Night — Major-General Goodloe Harper — The Toast' 
of the " Nation's Guest." G4 

Chapter YIIL 

Presentations — General Harper's Address — Lafayette's Feel- 
ing Beply — French Kesidents — Yenerable Du Bois Martin 
— Mr. Gerardin — Fountain Inn — Yisit to the Grand Lodge 
— Colonel Benjamin C. Howard — Grand Ball and Supper 
at the Holliday Street Theatre and Assembly Booms — 
Brilliant Spectacle — Mottoes in Gold Letters — Unbounded 
Enthusiasm — Congress Yotes the Yenerable Patriot an 
Independent Fortune 75 

Chapter IX. 

The Colonel's First Entrance into Public Life, Continued — 
Population of Baltimore — City Council — Public Schools ~^ 
Established 1829— Jew Bill— J. J. Cohen, Esq.— S. Etting, 
Esq. — Elected to City Council — The Meteoric Phenomenon, 
1833 — Baltimore American 81 



CONTENTS. IX 



Chapter X. 

PAGK. 

The Notorious Mob in Baltimore, 1835— The True Origin— 
An Exciting Aflair— Judge Brice — Gaming Establishments 
—Monument Square, 5th of August, 1835— Bank of Mary- 
land—Jesse Hunt, Esq., Mayor— Public Meeting, 7th— 
Captain A. I. W. Jackson— The Watchmen, &c 89 

Chapter XI. 

The House of John Glenn, Esq.— Dr. Samuel Baker— Pistol— 
Wounded— The People Fired on— The Killed and Wounded 
—Charles street— Reverdy Johnson, Esq's House in Monu- 
ment square — Bloodshed — W^ashington Blues — W^olfe and 
others killed in Charles street — Attack on Mr. Glenn's 
House — Attack on Mr. Johnson's House — American Eagle 
— Valuable Library and Furniture Destroyed — Portico 
hurled from its base, cost $2,000— Attack on the House of 
John B. Morris, Esq. — Attack on the House of Jesse Hunt, 
Esq.— Captain Joseph Willey— Dr. Hintze— E. T. Poult- 
ney, Esq —Evan T. Ellicott, Esq.— Hugh McElderry, Esq. 
— Captain Bentzinger — Genenil Samuel Smith 101 

Chapter XII. 

The Disastrous Floods of 1786, 1817 and 1837— Great Destruc- 
tion of Property and Human Life — Thrilling Scenes within 
the City — Colonel Stansbury's election to the Legislatures 



Chapter XIII. 

Colonel Stansbury's Installation into Office — Many Conjec- 
tures Concerning His Nominations — His Independency of 
Spirit — His Eeticenco till the Names were sent in to be 
Confirmed by the Councils after his Message, &c 129 



CONTEKTS. 



Chapter XIY. 

PAGE. 

Measures taken to relieve the Sufferings of the Poor — Grand 
Civic and Military Ball — Major-General Smith and Staff- 
General Lealdn and others constituting the Managers on 
the part of the Military, and the Mayor and City Councils 
on the part of the Municipal Authorities ; upon the part of 
Citizens, Peter Mowell, Esq., Hon. Solomon Hillen, Jr., 
John E. Stansbury and others; Joshua Vansant, Esq., 
Treasurer — Meeting in Favor of Seamen in the United 
States Navy, Mayor Stansbury, President ; George Brown, 
Christian Keener, Esq., and five others, Vice-Presidents; 
Kev. H. Y. D. Johns, Dr. Backus, Dr. Plumer, Charles F. 
Mayer, Esq., Hon. John P. Hale, United States Senator, 
Speakers — York and Cumberland Railroad Public Meeting, 
Mayor Stansbury, President; General O'Donnell, Johns 
Hopkins, William Bose, Chauncey Brooks, John S. Git- 
tings, and others, Yice- Presidents — Municipal Courtesies- 
Monsieur Yattemare 153 

Chapter XY. 

Mayor Stansbury's Second Message — Approval of his wise 
Administration by the Press — Healthy Condition of the City 
— Progressive Improvements in Building — New Houses — 
Register's Summary, and the Mayor's Proposition Con- 
cerning Colonel Howard's Property, &c., &c 170 

Chapter XYI. 

Colonel Stansbury's Retirement from Public Life — Fifty-nine 
Years of Age— Has lived through all the Administrations 
of the General Government- Flood of 1868— Great Destruc- 
tion of Life and Property — Thrilling Incidents on Jones' 
Falls in the City, and on the Patapsco at Ellicott City— A 
Valuable Table of Reference — All the Presidents of the 
United States Elected since 1789 to 1874— Chief Justices of 
the United States, from John Jay to Morrison R. Waite... 202 



CONTENTS. XI 



Chapter XVII. 

PAGE. 

Colonel Stansbury's Connection with Freenaasons, Odd Fellows 
and other Secret Associations — Took three Degrees a few 
weeks before the Battle of North Point, as Apprentice, Fel- 
low Craft and Master Mason — All in Eight Days, &c. — List 
of all the Governors of Maryland since 1777 — First City 
Council of Baltimore, 1797 — James Calhoun, Mayor — List 
of Members — List of all the Mayors of Baltimore 209 



Chapter XVIII. 

About the "Good Olden Times" — Pioneering for a Town 
Site — Baltimore in EmbrycK — Jones' Falls a Beautiful, 
Harmless, Meandering Brook — Society of Friends — Episco- 
palians—Jonestown — The First Newspaper, &c 216 

Chapter XIX. 

Bayltimore in the Eighteenth Century — The First Meeting of 
Congress in the Town — Preparing for War — Washington 
and Lafayette — Illumination — General Washington Elected 
President Unanimously, 1789 — On his Way to Congress at 
New York to be Inaugurated — Bank of Maryland, First 



228 



Chapter XX. 

Baltimore in ttie Nineteenth Century — Innoculation Intro- 
duced — The Lazaretto — Kobert Smith — Eev. Dr. Allison — 
Rev, James Ingliss — Kt. Eev. Bishop Carroll — Baltimore 
College — Penitentiary — Old Court House — Wm. Pinkn6y 
—Washington Monument — Nile's Eegister — John S. Skin- 
ner — St. Paul's Church — The Cathedral — Gas Introduced — 
List of Surviving " Old Defenders," with their Ages 2o7 



Xll CONTENTS. 



Chapter XXI. 

PACK. 

Inaugunition of the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad — The 
Masons — Kev. Dr. Wyatt — Upton S. Heath — John B. ^ 
Morris, Esq. — Charles Carroll of Carrol ton— Colonel Benj, 
C. Bo ward— General Samuel Smith— P. E. Thomas, Esq. 
— Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 1873 — Population of Balti- 
more, 1828— The Cholera, 1832 267 



Chapter XXII. 

Introduction of Morse's Telegraph — First Message by a 
Young Lady — ^^What Hath God Wrought P^ — Mesmerism! 
— Millerism 1 1 — 27th Congress — Incredulity of the Assem- 
bled Wisdom of the Nation— Hon. S. S. Cox— Hon. Fer- 
nando Wood — Honors Bestowed on Morse — Triumph of 
Genius, &c 276 

Chapter XXIII. 

Population of Baltimore in 1774 — The City Limits — The Bal- 
timore Newspapers — Fire Department — Water Works — 
New City Hall — Young Men's Christian Association Build- 
ing — Railroads and Canals — Something new about "The 
Star Spangled Banner" — Francis Scott Key— Conclusion — 
Colonel Stansbury's Punctuality — His Habitual Discharge 
of Duties as Mayor, &c 285 



MEMOIRS 

O F 

Col. ELIJAH STANSBURY, 

Ex-Mayor of Baltimore. 



CHAPTER I. 

Birth of Elijah Stansbury — His Ancestors — His 
Habits and Peculiarities — His Voluntary Ap- 
prenticeship. 

Elijah Stansbury was born in Baltimore county, 
Maryland, in the month of May, 1791, near the line 
dividing Baltimore and Harford counties, the place 
being then known as " McGaw's Mills," on the manor. 
He was the sixth son of Elijah Stansbury, Sr., the scion 
of a family widely and favorably known throughout 
Maryland among her earliest settlers. While the sub- 
ject of these memoirs was a tender infant, his father 
purchased a farm and mill seat in Harford county, to 
which place he moved, and where he lived happily for 
many years with his amiable consort, successfully rear- 
ing a family of thirteen children — ten sons and three 
daughters, Elijah being the sixth born. It was the 
earnest wish of his parents to make him a farmer, but 
2 13 



14 MEMOIRS OF 

from his boyliood up, lie ever evinced a strong desire 
and fondness for military life, and as illustrative of the 
proclivity and spirit of the boy fore-shadowing those 
of the man, we here give as apropos the following" 
episode : 

At the age of fifteen years, he organized a company 
of boys, numbering forty-seven. Being elected Captain, 
with Ed\\:;ard Rutledge, as First Lieutenant, he gener- 
ously furnished them with plumes, wooden guns and 
svvords at his own expense and disciplined them to the 
best of his ability, meeting every Saturday, weather 
permitting, for drill exercise in military tactics. Soon 
after the organization of our young hero's company, a 
youth by the name of Joseph Johnson, also raised a 
similar company, some four miles from. Captain Stans- 
bury's neighborhood, and the members elected young 
Johnson, their Captain. Sometime after this, Captain 
Stansbury's Company conceived that Captain Johnson's 
had offered them a gross insult which they took prompt 
measures to redress by demanding an apology or some 
proper reparation. But no notice of this appeal was 
taken by Captain Johnson, whereupon Captain Stans- 
bury's Company challenged Captain Johnson's to meet 
them in open combat on a certain day indicated — 
the place of meeting to be on a large level old-field, 
kno\vn by the name of ^^Macatee's Old Fields," where 
all the public parades took place. This old field was 
about half-way between the homes of the two compa- 
nies. The challenge was accepted and accordingly 
tlic neces3ary preliminaries were arranged to settle the 
matter as follows : 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUKY. 15 

First. The Captains of the two companies were to 
have a single combat without arms, and if the result 
was not satisfactory to both companies; then, Secondly, 
The two respective First Lieutenants should, in even- 
handed conflict, endeavor to bring the difficulty to a 
satisfactory adjustment by their personal skill and 
courage. If this failed, then. Thirdly, The next offi- 
cers of equal grade should successively pit themselves 
against each other to fight for victory. But, if this 
material was exhausted in vain, then, Lastly. The 
whole of each company, equally numbered, should 
meet in general fight. 

There was no battle however, for Captain Johnson's 
Company proved non est inventus, having failed to 
appear upon the field. By way of pleasantry tlie poet 
might add to meet this incident, 

He from the %lit who stays UAvay, 
May live to fight another day ! 

In justice to the absent company, we would say that 
it was more than probable that the parents of the 
respective members of Captain Johnson's Company, 
having heard of the contemplated mieeting, took meas- 
ures to prevent their sons from going. Indeed, Captain 
Stansbury's Company numbered only twenty-seven on 
this occasion, doubtless from the same cause. The 
l>:\rents of some of the members of Captain Stansbury's 
Company secretly followed, in order to see how they 
would acquit themselves in battle ! This was not 
known to our young heroes till they returned to their 
quarters. At all events. Captain Stansbury's command 



16 MEMOIRS OF 

gave at least this manifestation of bravery and pluck, 
by marching to the battle field to confront the enemy 
— and if the foe was not there, it certainly was not the 
fault of our young soldiers, who so faithfully followed 
their commander. This incident tends to show that 
the candor and manliness of Elijah Stansbury's dispo- 
sition were thus early displayed among his young 
companions, and the commanding influence of his 
character was first discovered by his ascendency over 
them. At the age of fifteen, the military bias of his 
mind was discovered, and had his aspirations for 
military life been gratified by a cadetship at West 
Point, we have no doubt that he would have carved 
his way to military renown, blended with a literary 
reputation of the highest order; for when at school, 
he generally was at the head of his class, manifesting 
an ardent love for letters, which only waited for a 
favorable opportunity to develop the industrious stu- 
dent and thorough scholar. In the rural districts, at 
the time of which we write, the branches taught in 
the schools rarely extended beyond an ordinary Eng- 
lish education. 

In all the youthful sports requiring skill and activ- 
ity, such as bandy, trap ball, cat, &c., he, although 
somewhat lame, was always chosen by his schoolmates 
as their captain or leader. He had acquired such ex- 
traordinary precision in throwing stones that he has 
been known to kill as many as five birds on his way 
to school in the morning. Young Stansbury was a 
universal favorite. This partiality seems to have ex- 
tended to his father and mother, for parents will have 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 17 

their preferences. It may have ai'isen from the fact 
that, besides bearing his father's christian name, which 
was a favorite one with the mother, he was the only 
child that strongly resembled her. So striking was 
the likeness that persons, previously seeing the mother 
would recognize the son upon meeting him alone, 
though a perfect stranger to them. It is mentioned 
as a singular circumstance that, as young Elijah ap- 
proached manhood, his likeness to the features of the 
mother gradually changed to the counterpart of those 
of the father. 

At the age of seventeen, Elijah decided that the 
vocation of farming was not suited to his taste or in- 
clination, and that he preferred some mechanical pur- 
suit, and, accordingly, he took measures to carry out his 
wishes. This did not meet the approval of his indul- 
gent parents, nevertheless they did not interpose their 
authority to frustrate his purpose. But they kindly 
offered him great inducements to stay at home, but all 
in vain, as the reader will learn presently. At this 
period his father had two farm.s and a mill seat on Deer 
creek, in Harford county, Maryland. The mill seat 
consisted of a large stone mill for grinding flour and 
meal, a saw mill, a fulling mill and a carding machine. 
This was in 1808, when manufacturing was in its 
infancy in that section of the country. The carding 
machine was secured as a preliminary step to going 
into the manufacturing of domestic goods. But that 
enterprise was never carried into effect. Attached to 
this mill scat were, one hundred and twenty acres of 
land. All this last mentioned farm and mill seat his 



18 MEMOIRS OF 

doting parents offered to give him, provided lie would 
stay at home, making him a deed for the same, and 
giving him full possession upon his reaching his twenty- 
iirst year. But all this could not induce him to change 
his mind. They made no further objection. Having 
a brother living in Baltimore, who was a bricklayer by 
trade, he at once apprenticed himself to him for four 
years, and faithfully served his time out. What a noble 
and manly example is this, for youth of the present 
generation to follov/. 




COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 19 



CHAPTER II. 

The War of 1812. 

At this time, 1812, the war between the United 
States and Great Britain broke out. Before we pro- 
ceed further in our memoirs, we beg to indulge in a di- 
gression. The people of Baltimore were among the first 
to resent the outraires of Endancl, as exhibited in the 
various taxations, which she had levied on the Colonics. 
They were, also, among the first to stir up tlie Colo- 
nies of the south to a just indignation of those wrongs ; 
and when the war actually took place, although Mary- 
land w^as nearly exempt from any visitation of the 
enemy, yet that did not prevent Baltimore from fur- 
nishing her quota of officers and troops, who, under 
the proud name of the " Old Maryland Line,'' did 
honor to the cause they aided and espoused, as well as 
to the people, by wdiom they were sent to the battle 
field. It is therefore a grateful duty, to mention in 
these pages, the names of some of these gentlemen, in 
order to offer to those who may be hereafter called upon 
to sustain their country's honor, such an example as 
shall, vv^heu imitated, secure to themselves unfading 
honor. 

General Mordecai Gist was born in Baltimore 
county, and when the war commenced he was appointed 
Major in a regiment of regular troops. He remained 
with his regiment, which was stationed at Baltimore, 
for some time after its formation. It was afterwards 



20 MEMOIRS OF 

marched to the north and served in the campaigns of 
the Northern Army. Major Gist was considered so 
meritorious an officer that he was soon promoted to tlie 
rank of Colonel, and when the Maryland Line was 
sent to the south he also went as a Brigadier-General, 
continuing in the service an active and meritorious 
officer until the peace. Subsequently he married in 
South Carolina, and died there in 1791, the very year 
the subject of these memoirs was born. 

General Otho Williams was a native of Prince 
George's county, Maryland. He commanded a com- 
pany as early as 1775, which marched to Boston. 

At the attack on Fort Washington he was wounded 
and taken prisoner, being at that time a Major. From 
the treatment he received from the enemy, cruel in the 
extreme, his health became so seriously impaired that 
he never recovered it, being an invalid the balance of 
his life. He was promoted to the command of the 
Sixth Regiment of the Maryland Line during his cap- 
tivity, and on being released he marched with his com- 
mand to the south, and in all the battles fovight by 
that celebrated line, he signally distinguished himself. 
He acted. as Deputy Adjutant-General of the Southern 
Army, under General Gates, and was in the disastrous 
battle of Camden. A remnant of the defeated army was 
formed into two battalions, constituting a regiment, 
and the command was given to Colonel Williams and 
Lieutenant-Colonel Howard. When General Gates 
joined the army he appointed Colonel Williams Adju- 
tant-General. In the battle of Eutaw Springs he 
gained the highest honors. Near the close of the war 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 21 

he was promoted by Congress to the rank of Brigadier- 
General. 

About a year before peace was restored, so sliattercd 
was his constitution that he was reluctantly constrained 
to retire fvom military service and was appointed by 
the State, Naval Officer for the Port of Baltimore, to 
fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Sollers, the 
late incumbent. He held this office till the organiza- 
tion of the Federal Government in 1789, when he was 
appointed Collector of the Port by the illustrious 
Washington. General Williams died in July, 1794. 
Colonel John Eager Howard was a native of 
Baltimore county. He entered the army as a Captain, 
and in the battle of the White Plains he became dis- 
tinguished. When several battalions were required to 
be raised by a resolution of Congress, Captain Howard 
was appointed a Major in one of the number allotted 
to Maryland. He was with the army at Rockey Hill, 
near Princeton, in April, 1777, and remained with it 
until June, when he returned home for a while in con- 
sequence of his father's death. He however re-joined 
the army in the following September, and was in the 
battle of Germantown. In June, 1779, Major Howard 
received his commission as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
5th Maryland Regiment. He was in the disastrous 
battle of Camden, but that portion of the duty assigned 
to Colonel Howard in the battle was sustained with 
great gallantry. In December subsequent to the bat- 
tle, General Green arrived and took command of the 
Southern Army. In January, 1781, was fought the 
battle of ^Uhe Cowpens/' The glories of that day 
2* 



22 MEMOIRS OF 

belong principally to Colonel Howard. At Eutaw, ho 
had the command of the Second Regiment. Colonel 
Howard on this occasion again distinguished himself, 
and in the action received a severe wound in the left 
shoulder. General Green observed of him in one of 
his letters : " Colonel Howard is as good an officer as 
the world afforded, and deserves a statue of gold no 
less tlian the Roman and Grecian heroes.^^ Certainly 
a higher compliment could never be paid than this. 
In Nov^eraber, 1788, Colonel Howard was chosen Gov- 
ernor of Maryland, and continued in the Executive 
chair for three years. In the year 179G, he was elected 
a Senator of the United States, in which relation he 
continued till the year 1803. He died full of honors 
in 1827. 

General Samuel SxMITII was born in Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania, but came to Baltimore in childhood. 
At the opening of the revolutionary war, he w^as 
appointed Captain in one of the regular companies 
stationed in Baltimore, but rose soon after to the 
rank of Colonel, and in that capacity, he joined the 
army, at that time w^atching the movements of Sir 
William Howe near Philadelphia. He was stationed 
with part of his regiment, at " Mud Fort," on the 
Delaware, when the British fleet was ascending that 
river. His gallant defence of that fort won him the 
reputation of a skilful and gallant officer, and, as a 
testimonial of his bravery, Congress presented him 
with a sword. He returned from the army some 
time after this battle, but did not withdraw from 
the service of his countrv. In Baltimore he took 



coLO^'EL ELIJAH STA^^SBU^vY. 23 

command of a regiment of militia, and continued 
doing duty during the whole of the war. General 
Smith, some years after the war, was elected to the 
Legislature of the State, where he remained till he 
was elected to Congress, in the year 1792. In Con- 
gress he continued until the year 1833, having served 
forty years in the Kational Council. In the war of 
1812, General Smith took a conspicuous part, which 
will be appropriately referred to in a future page of 
this book. 



24 MEMOIRS OF 



CHAPTER III. 

The Battle of North Point. 

The year 1812 was an epoch in the life of Colonel 
Stansbury; for it was in that year he had reached his 
manhood — a year rendered eventful by the breaking 
out of the war between Great Britain and the United 
States. Although exempt from military duty by lame- 
ness, caused through accident in his childhood, yet, 
believing that every man that was able to defend his 
country, though thus afflicted, should not hesitate to 
do so, and animated by that military spirit which 
characterized his earlier youth, he unhesitatingly vol- 
unteered his services to Captain John Montgomery, 
of the Baltimore Union Artillery, and was accepted ; 
the following constituting Captain Montgomery's com- 
mand, which numbered, officers and men all told, a 
total of ninty-one, as follows : 

David Harris, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 
1st Regiment Artillery. 

Baltimore Union Artillery, 
O/" the First Reg'uneyit of Artilleri/ of the Maryland Militia. 
Officers. 
John Montgomery, Captain. 
John S. Stiles, First Lieutenant. 
Joseph E. Brooks, Second Lieutenant. 
Jonathan Fitch, Third Lieutenant. 
Jesse Haslup, First Sergeant. 
John Riley, Second Sergeant. 
Geo. Eaverson, Third Sergeant. 
Wm. Sewell, Fourth Sergeant. 



COLONEL ELIJAU STANSBURY. 



25 



Alexander Boyd, First Corporal. 
Geo. Bartol, Second Corporal. 
Wm. H. Fonerdon, Third Corporal. 
Samuel House, Fourth Corporal. 



Priyates. 



Adrcon, Geo. 
Armstrong, John 
Armstrong, Thos. 
Bowers, Martin 
Barger, Geo. 
Barger, John 
Barnes, John 
Bartlett, Wm. 
Burull, Theophilus 
Brunett, Andrew 
Barcroft, Kalph 
Brown, John 
Cator, John 
Chalmers, James 
Chambers, John M. 
Childs, Samuel 
Curlett, James 
Curlett, Thomas 
Crossan, John 
Campbell, Hugh 
Churchman, Alfred W 
Camaham, James 
Dwyer, William 
Delcher, Geo. 
Davidson, James 
Douning, Wm. 
Elliot, Jos. B. 
Elliot, John B. 
Etchberger, John 
Erwin, John 



Franciscus, Geo. 
Farrall, James W. 
Finn, John W. 
German, Jonathan 
Gill, Ezekiel C. 
Holland, James 
Howard, David 
Hewett, Wm. 
Hill, Arthur 
Hazletine, David 
Jones, Joshua 
Jordan, Fred'k 
Joseph, Manuel 
Keen, Jr., AVilliam 
Lamb, John 
Long, Abraham 
Lowry, Robert 
Mamma, Samuel 
Mills, Ezekiel 
Mills, Wm. P. 
Miller, Fred'k 
Mopps, Adam 
Nippard, Geo. 
Pollard, Seth 
Penman, John 
Parker, Evan 
Renshaw, Thos. S. 
Robinson, John 
Riley, John 
Rowles, John 



26 MEMOIRS OF 

EingrosG, John W. Towson, Joshua 

East, Chas. Turner, John 

Shade, John West, "William 

Sharkey, Michael West, John 

Stewart, Thos. Wimmel Geo. S. 

Shaw, Jas, B. Wiese, Pred'k A. 

Stone, Pvich'd Williams, Thomas 

Smuch, Wm. Walter, John 
Stansbury, Elijah 

Officers' Seryakts. 
Emanuel and John. 

After the aifair at Bladensburg and capture of Wash- 
ington, an attack upon the city of Baltimore was con- 
fidently expected. Indeed, General Eoss had fixed 
upon it for his winter quarters, and boasted that with 
the force he had he would go where he pleased through 
Maryland. Thus forewarned, considerable additions 
were made to the defences of the city — some of the 
troops of General Winder's command were collected — 
Kodger's and Perry's were here; and a good many 
noble volunteers flocked in from the adjacent parts of 
our own State, and from Virginia and Pennsylvania. 
The Baltimore Brigade was taken en masse into the 
service of the- United States ; and the whole submitted 
to the direction of Major-General Smith, of the Mary- 
land Militia. On Saturday, the 10th of September, 
1814, information was received that the enemy was 
ascending the bay, and on Sunday morning, his ships 
were seen at the mouth of our river, the Patapsco, in 
number from forty to fifty. Some of his vessels entered 
the river, while others proceeded to North Point, (at 



COLO^'EL ELIJAH STANSCUIIY. 27 

tlie mouth of the Patapsco,) distant twelve miles from 
the city, and commenced the debarkation of their troops 
in the night, and finished early next morning. In 
tlie meantime, the frigates, bomb-ketches and small 
vessels, approached and ranged themselves in a formi- 
dable line to cannonade the fort and the town. The 
frigates were lightened before they entered the river — 
and the ships of line lay oiF North Point to overawe r»s 
and protect the whole force. The force that landed 
consisted of nine thousand men, viz: five thousand sol- 
diers, two thousand marines and two thousand sailors. 
The first, under Major- General Poss; the latter, com- 
manded by the famous Admiral Cockburn. The troops 
were a part of Wellington's Invincibles. Some works 
were erecting not far from North Point to arrest their 
progress; but their incipient state forbade a stand 
being made at them ; and the enemy marched four 
miles towards the city uninterrupted, except by a few 
flying shots from the cavalry. Here they were met by 
General Strieker, with his entire Baltimore Brigade, 
(except tliat he had only one company of the regiment 
of artillery,) consisting of Colonel Biay's Cavalry, the 
Pifle Corps, and the 5th, 6th, 27th, 39th and 51st 
Pegiments of Infantry, commanded respectively by 
Lieutenant-Colonels Sterett, McDonald, Long, Fowler 
and Amey. In the 5th was incorporated an elegantly 
uniformed company of volunteers from York, Pennsyl- 
vania, under the command of Captain Spangler; and 
in the o9th. Captain Metzger^s fine company of volun- 
teers from Hanover, Pennsylvania, and Captain Quan- 
tril's, from Hagerstown, Maryland ; and in the 6th, 



28 MEMOIRS OF 

Captain Dixon's volunteers from Marietta, Pennsyl- 
vania — all the rest were city troops; and the whole, 
including Captain Montgomery's Company of Artil- 
lery, (with six four- pounders) amounted to about three 
thousand two hundred men. The rest of our forces 
were judiciously stationed in or near the various de- 
fences, <&c. About one o'clock, a party of one hundred 
and fifty or two hundred men, consisting of Captain 
Levering's and Captain Howard's Companies of the 
5th Regiment, and Captain Aisquith's Rifle Corps, 
were detached from the line to feel the enemy and 
bring on the battle. They were accompanied by a few 
artillerists, with one of their pieces — Captain Mont- 
gomery's Company, Before they expected it, they were 
attacked by the British, in very superior numbers, and 
driven in with some loss, after a few fires, to the main 
body. As the enemy advanced, the artillery opened a 
destructive fire upon them, which Avas returned from 
two nine-pounders, and the action became general along 
the line of the 5th and 27th, which were in front. The 
39th and 51st were in the rear of these, and the 6th 
advantageously posted still nearer the city, to protect 
and cover the whole. The fire from the 5th and 27th 
Regiments, as well as from the artillery, the latter 
firing one hundred and thirty rounds, was very active 
and uncommonly effective for about an hour. Of the 
5th much was expected, but the 27tli behaved at least 
as gallantly. The men took deliberate aim, and the 
carnage was great — the famous "AYellington's Invinci- 
bles'' dodging to the ground, and crawling in a bend- 
ing posture to avoid the militia — the "yeomen" they 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUEY. 29 

■were taught so much to despise ! When the 5th and 
27th (between which was 2)lpced the artillery) were 
outflanked by the much greater force of the enemy, 
they retired in better order than could have been ex- 
pected under a galling fire; falling back reluctantly at 
the repeated command of their gallant officers. The 
right of the 39th was gallantly engaged, but the 51st 
took no part in the action ; and it was not at that time 
and place expected that the 6th would share in it, else 
(under its veteran Colonel Paul Bentalau, a soldier of 
the Revolution, and one who met the same foe under 
the brave Pulaski,) it would no doubt have distin- 
guished itself. The cavalry, though they performed 
very severe and important duties, had but little to do 
in the battle. The whole number of our men actually 
engaged did not exceed one thousand seven hundred. 
Nearly as much, perhaps, being done at this point as 
was expected, our force retreated towards the city. The 
enemy followed slowly and very cautiously, and on 
Tuesday night approached within about two miles of 
our entrenchments. Measures were taken to cut them 
off and punish their temerity; but before General 
Winder, with the Virginia Militia and a squadron of 
United States Cavalry, could bring his plans fully to 
bear, the British, suspecting the design, or probably 
not liking the appearance of our works, decamped sud- 
denly in the niglit, and embarked with such precipita- 
tion, that though closely pursued, a few prisoners only 
were taken. But the pursuing force merited and have 
received the thanks of their General ; and the whole 
body, collectively, is entitled to the enduring gratitude 



30 2JEM0IRS OF 

of Baltimore, aiul of their coiintrVj for the sufferings 
they so patiently and patriotically met, being compelled 
to sleep, if sleep was allov/ed, in the open air, with the 
heavens for their canopy, for four nights, during the 
chief part of which it rained pretty constantly, and 
sometimes heavily, receiving their refreshments irregu- 
larly ; the rations being packed up in prudent prepara- 
tion of events that might have happened. 



COLOXEL ELIJAH STAXSBUllY. 31 



CHAPTEE lY. 

The Bombardment. 

The attack on Fort McHeniy was terribly grand 
and magnificent. The enemy's vessels formed a great 
lialf circle in front of the works on the 12th, but out 
of the reach of our guns, and also the battery at the 
Lazaretto, on tlie opposite side of the great cove or 
basin around the head of which the city of Baltimore 
is built. Fort McHenry is about two miles from what 
was then considered the city — a ^' light little place/' 
as it was called, with some finely planned batteries, 
mounted with heavy cannon, as the British very iceU 
knew, through certain traitors in our midst. At six 
o'clock on Tuesday morning, six bomb and some rocket 
vessels commenced the attack, keeping such a respect- 
ful distance as to make the fort rather a target than an 
opponent; though Major Armstead, the commander, 
and his brave garrison fired occasionally, to let the 
enemy know the place was not given up! Four or 
five bombs were frequently in the air at a time, and 
making a double explosion, Vv'itli the noise of the flam- 
ing rockets and the firing of the fort, lazaretto and our 
barges, created quite a horrible clatter. [Many of 
these bombs have since been found entire; they weigh, 
when full of their combustibles, about two hundred 
and ten or two hundred and twenty pounds, and were 
thrown much farther than our forty-two-pouuders could 
reach.] Thus the bombardment continued until about 



32 MEMOIRS OF 

three o'clock in the afternoon — nine hours — when the 
enemy, growing more enboldened, dropped nearer the 
fort and gave the garrison and batteries a little of the 
chance so much desired. The batteries opened fire and 
the balls flew like hail stones — the Britons slipped 
their cables, hoisted their sails and were off in a 
moment, but not without damage. AVhen they got 
out of harm's way they renewed the gallant attack, 
throwing their bombs with desperate vigor and ac- 
tivity commensurate only to the deep mortification of 
an unexpected repulse. So they went on until about 
one o'clock in the morning of the 13th, our batteries 
at intervals firing a single gun. At this stage of affairs, 
aided by the darkness of the night, and screened by a 
flame they had kindled, one or two rocket or bomb 
vessels and many barges, manned with one thousand 
two hundred chosen men, passed Fort McHenry and 
proceeded up the Patapsco, to assail the town and fort 
in the rear, and perhaps to effect a landing. The 
short-sighted mortals, believing a noble achievement 
near at hand, were emboldened to give three cheers 
and began to throw their missive weapons. But, alas! 
their cheering was speedily turned to groaning, and 
the agonizing cries of their w^ounded and drowning 
people reached the shore; for Forts McHenry and 
Covington, with the City Battery and the Lazaretto 
and barges, vomited forth an iron flame upon them 
from the great semi-circle of large guns. The houses 
in the city were shaken to their very foundations, for 
never, perhaps, from the time of the invention of ord- 
nance to that day, were the same number of pieces fired 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 33 

in such ra])id succession ; particularly from Fort Cov- 
ington, where a party of Rodgers' really invincible 
crew was posted. Barney ^s flotillamen, at the City 
Battery, maintained the high reputation previously 
earned in naval combat. The enemy's vessels opened 
fire, lighting the heavens with a sheet of lurid flame — 
the fierce booming of canon and explosion of bombs 
continuing for half an hour. Having met with this 
unexpected reception, the enemy precipitately retired 
with his remaining force, battered and crippled, to his 
respecfful distance ; the darkness of the night and his 
ceasing to fire (which was the only guide our people 
had) preventing his annihilation. All was for some 
time still, and solemn silence reigning. But being 
beyond danger some of his vessels resumed the bom- 
bardment, which continued until after day-break — 
lasting in all about twenty-four hours, during which 
there were thrown not less than fifteen hundred of 
these great bombs, besides many rockets and some red 
shot. The enemy must have suffered seriously in this 
affair. Two of their large barges had been sunk, and 
in them were yet found some of the dead. But the 
real loss probably will never be known to us. They 
also suffered from the guns of Fort McHenry, the 
Lazaretto and the barges. A spectator says he saw 
several shot take effect during Tnesday afternoon, and 
further adds, that the preservation of our people in 
the fort was truly wonderful. Only four were killed 
and about twenty wounded, and less than three hun- 
dred dollars repaired damages sustained ! Lieutenant 
Claggct and Sergeant Clemm, of Captain Nicholson's 



34 MEMOIRS OF 

Company of Artillciy, were the only officers killed in 
the fort. They were merchants of high standing, and 
their deaths were deeply regretted by a large circle of 
acquaintance and the whole community of Baltimore. 
Admiral Cockburn boasted that he vv'ould take the 
fort in two hours, speaking of its surrender as a matter 
of course, saying that when it was taken, and the ship- 
ping destroyed, "/le loould then think about terms for the 
city!^^ All about and in the fort gave such evidence 
of his zeal, to faithfully execute his threat, that it 
seems like a miracle that more damage was not done. 
We are informed that Major Armstead, through watch- 
ing and excessive fatigue (for he liad other great duties 
to do, besides defending his post,) flagged as soon as 
the fight was over, and remained quite ill for several 
days. Many of his gallant companions were also ex- 
hausted, but, finally, recruited their strength. To 
return to the field engagement. The force of the 
enemy is said to have amounted to five thousand men. 
They were fine looking fellows, but seemed rather un- 
willing; to meet American bullets — their dodt^-intr from 
the artillery of the brave Montgomery and his men, 
and their stooping before the musketry, have already 
been noticed. The prisoners and deserters say that, 
for the time the battle lasted, they never before faced 
so destructive a fire. Our men fired, it is said, not by 
word of command only, but also took deliberate aim 
at the object. Of the 21st British Regiment, about 
five hundred were landed. On the mornina: of the 
13th, they found one hundred and seventy-one killed, 
wounded and missino\ The whole loss of the British 



COLO^'EL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 35 

might be safely estimated at eight hundred. Major- 
General Koss was killed in the early part of the 
action, and there is reason to believe that two or 
three other officers, high in command, met the same 
fate. His death was probably the immediate cause, 
why an attack upon our works was not made. Colonel 
Brook, on whom the command devolved, would not 
risk the undertaking. 

Our whole loss, in the 3d Brigade, was as follows : 

In CAPTAiisr Moxtoomery's Artillery, of Avliicli young 
Stansbury was a member, and vAio for his gallant conduct on 
the field, was personally complimented in the highest terms by 
Captain Montgomery, were the following casualties : Wounded — • 
Jos. E. Brooks, Second Lieutenant, one Sergeant and twelve 
Privates — one since dead. 

5Tn Eegimekt or Infantry. 

Killed— Six Privates. 

Wounded — Captain Stewart, Lieutenant Reese, one Sergeant, 
two Corporals and forty Privates. 

27Tn Eegiment of Infantry. 

Killed — Adjutant Jas. L. Donaldson and eight Privates. 
Wounded — Major Moore, two Sergeants, two Corporals and 
forty-one Privates. 

SOth PvEgiment of Infantry". 

Killed — Three Privates. 

Wounded — Captain Quantril, two Corporals and twenty Privates. 

51sT Eegtment of Infantry. 

A';7^:cZ— Three Privates. 

If oi/nc/ecZ— Ensign Kirbv and three Privates. 



36 MEMOIRS OF 

Rifle Battalion. 

Al/^er^— Lieutenant Andre and two Privates, (McComas and 
Wells,) said to have killed Ross. 

Wounded — Two Sergeants and five Privates. 

Recapitulatiox. 

Killed — One Adjutant, one Subaltern and twenty-two Privates — 
Total, twenty-four. 

Wounded — One Major, two Captains, three Subalterns, twelve 
Non-commissioned Officers and one hundred and twenty-one Pri- 
vates — Total, one hundred and thirty-nine. 

Made prisoners — One Subaltern, forty-nine Commissioned Offi- 
cers and Privates — Total, two hundred and thirteen. 

The Recapitulation contains the aggregate of prisoners taken 
by the enemy, excepting those paroled at the meeting house, 
included in the wounded. I am unable, at present, to state to 
what regiments they were attached. As the honorable Colonel 
Brook has vied with his compatriots, in falsifying an official 
report, I beg you will favor the public with this account, in any 
form you please. I pledge myself for its correctness. 
Yours respectfully, 

L. Frailey, 
Laie Brigade Major, Sd Brigade. M. M. 

The above list was copied from Niles' Register, and 
has the following caption : 

List of the killed and wounded of the 3d Brigade, 
in the late engagement at ^'Long Log Lane/^ Septem- 
ber 12th, 1814. Communicated and signed as above. 

The Officers killed were James Lowry Donaldson, 
Adjutant of the gallant 27th Regiment, and one of the 
Representatives of Baltimore in the House of Delegates 
of Maryland. He fell while encouraging his brethren 
and Lieutenant Andre, of the " Union 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 37 

Yagers," a valuable young man. Dr. Samuel B. 
Martin, now (1874) in his ninetieth year, who was 
Surgeon to the 1st Eifle Battalion of Maryland, in- 
forms the writer that he saw the brave young Andre 
fall off a fence when he was shot. He died instantly. 
Third Sergeant Alexander McKenzie of the Sharp- 
shooters was dangerously wounded at the same time. 
Surgeon Martin took him off the field on his horse, 
securing him safe shelter and proper care. Wells and 
McComas belonged to the same company. Brave 
young patriots ! your countrymen will ever cherish 
your memory.* Major Moore, of the 27th, was 
severely, but not dangerously wounded. Major Heath, 
of the 5th, had two horses shot under him, and Major 
Berry's, of the same regiment, was killed. The cav- 
alry lost several horses, and some of them on the look- 
out were taken prisoners. Brigadier-General Strieker, 
whose urbanity had long endeared him to the citizens 
under his command and the people at large, behaved 
as became the high charge entrusted to him as a sol- 
dier. He had, we are told, the entire confidence of his 
brigade. Robert Goodloe Harper, Esq., who volun- 
teered his services as an Aid-de-camp ^ also greatly 
exerted himself in the hottest part of the fire, to 
encourage and give steadiness to our troops. 

The enemy's bomb vessels, the writer is informed, 
were much wrecked by their own fire, in consequence 
of the heavy strain upon them from stem to stern — 
every discharge sinking them two feet in the water. 



* Monument at Ashland Square, Gay street, was erected to their memojy 
by the citizens in 1873, the Councils making an appropriation to complete it. 

3 



38 MEMOIRS OF 

Never was the mortification of an invader more com- 
plete than that of our enemy. Beaten by the militia 
and repulsed by the fort, he crept away meanly and 
sullenly in the worst possible humor, sustaining a total 
loss, in all probability, of not less than eight hundred 
men. 

For the satisfaction of the reader, the following 
official documents are appended : 

Battle of J^ortu Point. 
OFFICIAL LETTERS. 

Washington City, September 22J. 

Ccypy of a letter from Major-Gencrnl Smith to the Secretary 

of V/cir^ dated 

IIkad-Qcarters, Baltimore, ") 
September 19th, 1814 J 

Sir : In compliance with the promise contained in my letter 
of the loth instant, I have now the honor of stating that the 
enemy landed hetween seven and eight thousand men on Mon- 
day, tlie 12th instant, at North Point, fourteen miles distant from 
this town. Anticipating this debarkation, General Strieker had 
been detached on Sunday evening with a portion of his brigade 
on the North Point- road. Major Eandel, of the Baltimore 
County Militia, having under his command a light corps of rifle- 
men and musketry taken from G-eneral Stansbury's Brigade and 
the Pennsylvania Volunteers, v/as detached to the mouth of Bear 
creek, with orders to cooperate with General Strieker, and to 
check any landing in that quarter. On Monday, Brigadier- 
General Strieker took a good position at the junction of the two 
roads leading from this place to North Point, having his right 
flanked at Bear creek, and his left by a marsh. He here waited 
the approach of the enemy, having sent an advance corps under 
the command of Major Heath, of the 5th Regiment. This ad- 
vance was met by that of the enemy, and after some skirmishing 
it returned to the line, the main body of the enemy being at a 
short distance in the rear of their advance. Between two and 



COLONEL ELIJAH STAXSBUEY. 89 

three o'clock, the enemy's whole force came up, and commenced 
the battle by some discharges of rockets, which were succeeded 
by cannon from both sides, and soon after the action became 
general along the line. General Strieker gallantly maintained 
his ground against a great superiority of numbers during the 
space of an hour and twenty minutes, when the regiment on his 
left (the 51st) giving way, he was under the necessity of retiring 
to the ground in his rear, where he had stationed one regiment 
as reserve. He here formed his brigade ; but the enemy not 
thinking it advisable to pursue, he, in compliance with previous 
arrangements, fell back and took post on the left of my entrench- 
ments, and a half mile in advance of them. In this aft'air, the 
citizen soldiers of Baltimore, with the exception of the 61st Regi- 
ment, have maintained the reputation they so deservedly acquired 
at Bladensburg, and their brave and skilful leader has confirmed 
the confidence, which we had all so justly placed in him. I take 
the liberty of referring you to his letter for a more particular 
mention of the individuals who, new to warfore, have shown the 
coolness and valor of veterans ; and who, by their conduct on 
this occasion, have given their country and their city an assur- 
ance of what may be expected from them when their services are 
again required. I cannot dismiss the subject without expressing 
the heartfelt satisfaction I experience in thus bearing testimony 
to the courage and good conduct of my fellow-townsmen. About 
the time General Strieker had taken the ground just mentioned, 
he was joined by Brigadier-General Winder, who had been sta- 
tioned on the west side of the city, but was now ordered to march 
with General Douglass' Brigade of Virginia Militia and the 
United States Dragoons under Captain Bird, and take post on 
the left of General Strieker. During these movements, the 
brigades of Generals Stansbury and Foreman, the seamen and 
marines under Commodore Rogers, the Pennsylvania Volunteers 
under Colonels Cobean and Findlcy, the Baltimore Artillery 
u!ider Colonel Harris, and the marine artillery under Captain 
Stiles, manned the trenches and the batteries — all prepared to 
receive the enemy. We remained in this situation during the 
night. 

On Tuesday the enemy appeared in front of my entrenchments 



40 MEMOIRS OF 

Avhence he had a full view of our position. He manoouvrecl 
during the morning towards our left, as if with the intention of 
making a circuitous march and coming down on the Hartford or 
York roads. Generals "Winder and Strieker were ordered to 
adopt their movements to those of the enemy, so as to bafile this 
supposed intention. They executed this order with great skill 
and judgment, by taking an advantageous position, stretching 
from my left across the country, when the enemy was likelj'- to 
approach the quarter he seemed to threaten. This movement 
induced the enemy to concentrate his forces (between one and 
two o'clock) in my front, pushing his advance to within a mile 
of us, driving in our videttes, and showing an intention of attack- 
ing us that evening. I immediately drew Generals Winder and 
Strieker nearer to the left of my entrenchments and to the right 
of the enemy, with the intention of their falling on his right or 
rear should he attack me ; or, if he declined it, of attacking him 
in the morning. To this movement, and to the strength of my 
defences, which the enemy had the fairest opportunity of observ- 
ing, I am induced to attribute his retreat, which was commenced 
at half-past one o'clock on Wednesday morning. In this he 
was so favored by the extreme darkness and continued rain, that 
we did not discover it until daylight. I consented to General 
Winder's pursuing with the Virginia Brigade and the United 
States Dragoons ; at the same time Major Eandal was despatched 
with his light corps in pursuit of the enemy's right, whilst the 
whole of the militia cavalry was put in motion for the same 
object. All the troops, were, however, so worn out with con- 
tinued watching, and with being under arms during three days 
and nights, exposed the greater part of the time to very incle- 
ment weather-, that it was found impracticable to do anything 
more than to pick up a few stragglers. The enemy commenced 
his embarkation that evening, and completed it the next day 
at one o'clock. It would have been impossible, even had our 
troops been in a condition to act offensively, to have cut off any 
of the enemy's rear guard during the embarkation, as the point 
where it was effected was defended from our approach by a line 
of defence, extending from Back river to Humphrey's creek on 
the Patapsco, thrown up by ourselves previous to their arrival. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 41 

I have now the pleasure of calling your attention to the brave 
commander of Fort McHenry, Major Armistead, and to the 
operations confined to that quarter. The enemy made his ap- 
proach by water at the same time that his army was advancing 
on the land, and commenced a discharge of bombs and rockets at 
the fort, as soon as he got within range of it. The situation of 
Major Armistead was peculiarly trying — the enemy having taken 
his position at such a distance as to render offensive operations on 
the part of the fort entirely fruitless, whilst their bombs and rockets 
were every moment falling in and about it — the officers and men 
being at the same time entirely exposed. The vessels, however, 
had the temerity to approach somewhat nearer — they were as 
soon compelled to withdraw. During the night, whilst the enemy 
en land was retreating, and whilst the bombardment was the most 
severe, two or three rocket vessels and barges succeeded in getting 
up the Ferry Branch ; but they were soon compelled to retire by 
the forts in that quarter, commanded by Lieutenant Newcomb, 
of the navy, and Lieutenant Webster, of the flotilla. These forts 
also destroyed one of the barges, with all on board. The barges 
and battery at the Lazaretto, under the command of Lieutenant 
Fvutter, of the flotilla, kept up a brisk, and it is believed, a success- 
ful fire during the hottest period of the bombardment. Major 
Armistead being seriously ill in consequence of his continued 
exposure to the Aveather, has rendered it impossible for him to 
send in his report. It is not therefore, in my power to do justice 
to those gallant individuals, who partook Avith him the danger of 
a tremendous bombardment, without the ability of retorting, and 
without that security, which, in more regular fortifications, is 
provided for such occasions. The loss, in the fort, is, I under- 
stand, about twenty-seven killed and wounded — amongst the 
former, I have to lament the loss of Lieutenants Claggett and 
Clemm, who were both estimable citizens and useful oflaccrs. 

From General Strieker's Brigade, the return of the killed and 
wounded has not yd come in. It is supposed, however, to 
amount to about one hundred and fifty— among the former, this 
city has to regret the loss of its representative in the State Legis- 
lature, James Lowry Donaldson, Esq., Adjutant of the 27th 



42 MEMOIRS OF 

stituents for his zeal and talents, and by his corps for his bravery 
and military knowledge. 

I cannot conclude this report, without informing you of the 
great aid I have derived from Commodore Rodgers. He was 
ever present and ever ready to afford his useful counsel, and to 
render his important services. His presence, with that of his 
gallant officers and seamen,' gave confidence to every one. 

The enemy's loss in this attempt on Baltimore, amounts, as 
near as wo can ascertain it, to between six and seven hundred 
killed, wounded and missing — General Eoss was certainly killed. 

I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, your obedient 
servant, 

S. SMITH, 
Colonel James Monroe, Major-General Commanding. 

Acting Secrctai^y of War. 



Copy of a letter from Brigadier-General Stricker to Major- 
Gcneral Smith, dated 

Head Quarters, 3d Brigade, "> 

Baltimore, September loth, 1314. j" 

Major-Gcneral S. Smith, 

Sir: I have the honor to report to you, that in obedience to 
your orders, I marched from Baltimore on Sunday, the 11th 
instant, with part of my brigade, as the advance corps of the 
army under your command. My force consisted of five hundred 
and fifty of the 5th Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Ster- 
rett; six hundred and twenty of the 6th, under Lieutenant- 
Colonel M'Donald; five hundred of the 27th, under Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Long; four hundred and fifty of the 39th, under 
Lieutenant-Colonel Fowler; seven hundred of the 51st, under 
Lieutenant-Colonel Amey ; one hundred and fifty riflemen, under 
Captain Dyer ; one hundred and forty cavalry, under Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Biays, and the Union Artillerj^ of seventy-five men, 
with six four-pounders, under Captain Montgomery, making an 
aggregate of three thousand one hundred and eighty-five efi'ec- 
tive men. I moved towards ISTorth Point by the main road, 
and at 8 o'clock, P. M., reached the meeting house near the head 
of Biiar creek, seven miles from this city. Here the brigade 



COLONEL ELIJAH STAXSBURY. 43 

halted, with the exception of the cavalry, who were pushed for- 
ward to Gorsuch's farm, three miles in advance, and the riflemen, 
who took post near the hlacksmith's shop, two miles in advance 
of our encampment. At seven o'clock, on the morning of the 
12th, I received information from the advance videttes that the 
enemy were debarking troops from and under cover of their gun 
vessels, which lay off the bluff of North Point within the mouth 
of Patapsco river. I immediately ordered back my baggage 
under a strong guard, moved forward the 5th and 27th Eegi- 
ments and my artillery to the head of Long Log Lane, (so called,) 
resting the 5th with its right on the head of a branch of Bear 
creek, and its left on the main ISTorth Point road, while the 27th 
was posted on the opposite side of the road, in line with the 5th, 
its left extending towards a branch of Back river. The artillery 
I posted directl}- at the head of the line in the interval between 
the 5th and 27th. The 39th occupied a ground three hundred 
yards in the rear of the 27th, and the 51st the same distance in 
the rear of the 5th, extending each parallel to the front line. 
The 6th Kegiment was thrown back to a position a short distance 
this side of Cook's Tavern, and a half a mile in the rear of the 
second line. My orders were, that the 5th and 27th should re- 
ceive the enemy, and, if necessary, fall back through the 51st 
and 39th, and form on the right of the Gth or Eeserve Kegiment. 
The riflemen were ordered to the skirts of a thick low pine wood 
beyond the blacksmith shop, with a large sedge-field in front, 
that, as the cavalry were still in advance, who would inform of 
the enemj^'s approach, they might take advantage of the covering 
of the wood, and annoy his advance. I soon learned that the 
enemy's advance party was moving rapidly up the main road, 
and as the cavalry continually announced their progress, I flat- 
tered myself with the hope, the riflemen w^ould soon proclaim by 
a galling fire their still nearer approach. Imagine my chagrin, 
when I perceived the whole rifle corps falling back upon my 
main position, having too credulously listened to groundless in- 
formation that the enemy was landing on Back river to cut them 
off. . My hopes of early annoyance to the enemy being thus frus- 
trated, I threw the riflemen on the right flank of my front line, 
thereby, with the addition of a few cavalry, very well securing 



44 MEMOIRS OF 

that flank. My videttes soon brought information that the enemy 
in small force Avas enjoying himself at Gorsuch's farm. Insulted 
at the idea of a small marauding party thus daringly provoking 
chastisement, several of my officers volunteered their corps to 
dislodge it. 

Captains Levering's and Howard's Companies from the 5th, 
about one hundred and fifty in number, under Major Heath, of 
that regiment; Captain Aisquith's and a few other riflemen, in 
all about seventy ; one four-pounder, with ten men, under Lieu- 
tenant Stiles, and the cavalry, were immediately pushed forward 
to punish the insolence of the enemy's advance, or, if his main 
body appeared, to give evidence of my wish for a general engage- 
ment. The latter purpose was soon answered ; this small volun- 
teer corps had proceeded scarcely half a mile before the main body 
of the enemy showed itself, which was immediately attacked. — 
The infantry and riflemen maintained a fire of some minutes, and 
retired with some loss in killed and wounded ; the cavalry and 
artillery, owing to the disadvantageous grounds, not being able to 
support them. In this skirmish, Major Heath's horse was killed 
under him. At half-past two o'clock, the enemy commenced 
throwing rockets across my left flank, which seemed harmless, 
and had no other effect than to prepare my line for the sound of 
the artillery, which soon commenced by us on the enemy's right 
column then pushing across towards my left, and returned by 
their six-pounders and a howitzer upon my left and centre. The 
cannonading was brisk for some minutes, when I ordered my fire 
to cease until the enemy should get within close range of can- 
nister. Seeing that my left flank was the main object of the 
enemy, 1 brought up the 39th into line on the left of the 27th, 
and detached two pieces of artillery to the left of the 39th ; still 
more securely to protect my left flank, Colonel Amey, of the 51st, 
was ordered to form his regiment at right angles with my line, 
resting his right near the left of the 39th. This order being 
badly executed, created for a moment some confusion in that 
quarter, but was soon rectified by the eflbrts of my Aid-de-camp 
and Brigade Majors, who corrected the error of Colonel Amey, 
and posted the 51st in its ordered position. The enemy's right 
column displayed and advanced upon the 39th and 27th. The 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURV. 45 

61st, unmindful of my object to use its fire in protection of my 
left flank in case an attempt should be made to turn it, totally 
forgetful of the honor of the brigade, and regardless of its ovrn 
reputation, delivered one random fire and retreated precipitately 
and in such confusion, as to render every effort of mine to rally 
them ineffective. Some disorder was occasioned in the second 
battalion of the 39th, by the flight of the 51st, and a few gave 
way. The fire now became general from left to right ; my ar- 
tillery in the centre poured forth an incessant volley of cannister 
upon the enemy's left column; who were endeavoring to gain the 
cover of a small log house, about fifty yards in front of the 5th, 
which, however, precaution had been taken to fire, so soon as 
Captain Sadtler's Yagers from the 5th (who were originally 
posted therein) should be compelled to leave it. The enemy's 
line advanced about ten minutes before three o'clock, with 
a severe fire, which was well returned by the artillery, the 
27th, the 5th, except the three companies of Captains Levering, 
Howard and Sadtler, which w^ere too much exhausted by the 
advanced skirmish of the two former, and the ordered retreat of 
the latter, to resume their positions in line, and from the first 
battalion of the 39th, who maintained its ground in despite of 
the disgraceful example set by the intended support on the left. 
The fire was incessant till about fifteen minutes before four 
o'clock, when, finding that my line, now fourten hundred strong, 
was insutficient to withstand the superior numbers of the enemy, 
and my left flank being exposed by the desertion of the 51st, I 
was constrained to order a movement back to the reserve regi- 
ment, under Colonel McDonald, which was well posted to receive 
the retired line, which mostly rallied well. On forming with the 
Cth, the fatigued state of the regiments and corps which had re- 
tired, and the probability that my right flank might be turned 
by a quick movement of the enemy in that direction, induced 
me, after proper deliberation, to fall back to Worthington's mill, 
which I was the more persuaded to, by my desire to have the 6th 
Regiment (whose ofiicers and men were eager to share the dangers 
of their brother soldiers) perfect and in good order to receive the 
enemy on his nearer approach to the city. All retired as I could 
wish, and were ready to act as circumstances might require. In 



46 MEMOIRS OF 

this situation you found the brigade on the morning of the 13th, 
somewhat fatigued, but with increased confidence in ourselves, 
and renewing our preparation for the annoyance of the enemy 
alone, if deemed proper, or in conjunction with any other force. 

I have thought it due to the merits of my brigade, to detail 
thus fully their whole movement, and I feel a pride in the belief 
that the stand made on Monday in no small degree tended to 
check the temerity of a foe, daring to invade a country like ours, 
and designing the destruction of our city, in whose defence some 
of the best blood of the country has already been spilt, and for 
whose safety and protection the citizen-soldiers of the 3d Brigade 
are ready to suffer every privation, and meet every danger. 
Should report be true, (and I doubt not the fact,) that the ene- 
my's commanding officer. Major- Gena^al Moss, was killed in this 
action, and that the enemy suffered in proportion to his supe- 
rior numbers, I shall feel still more the valuable consequences 
of our fight. 

The conduct of many company ofiicers and privates was such 
as I calculated on ; that of most of my field officers also merits 
my particular notice. Major Eichard K. Heath, of the 5th, who 
led on the advanced party to bring on the action, behaved as 
became an officer j the facts of his first horse being killed under 
him in the first skirmish, his second being badly wounded, and 
himself receiving a contusion on the head, by a musket ball, in 
the general action, are ample proofs of his bravery and exposure 
in discharge of his duty. Lieutenant-Colonel Sterett and Major 
Barry, of the 5th, gained my highest approbation, and they 
united with all in praise of Captain Spangler and his company 
of volunteers from York, Pennsylvania, then attached to their 
command; also of Adjutant Cheston, who is slightly wounded. 
Lieuteuant-Colonel Long, of the 27th, and his field and company 
officers did well, this whole regiment were unsurpassed in bravery, 
resolution and enthusiasm. My brigade has to bewail the loss of 
Adjutant James Lowry Donaldson, who fell in the hottest of the 
fight, bravely discharging the duties of his commission. Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Powler and Major Steiger, of the 29th, did their 
duty in every respect ; they speak highly of the volunteer compa- 
nies of Captain Quantril, from Hagerstown, and Captain Metzgar, 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUIIY. 47 

from Hanover, Pennsylvania. Captain Quantril is wounded. Cap- 
tain John Montgomery, commanding my artillery, gained for 
himself and his company lasting honor. Captain Aisquith and 
his company of riflemen merit my thanks. Ensign Wilmot, 
commanding the company of United Yolunteers of the 5th, and 
many of his men, distinguished themselves. To Brigade Majors 
Calhoun and Frailey, 1 am under great obligations for the 
prompt and zealous performance of their duty. To my Aid-de- 
Camp, Major George P. Stevenson, too much praise cannot be 
given, his industry in every arrangement before the fight, and in 
animating the whole line, was conspicuous ; his zeal and courage 
are of the most ardent kind, the sprightliness of his manners in 
the most trying scenes, had the happiest effect upon all to whom 
he had to communicate my orders ; and the precision with which 
he delivered my commands, could be exceeded only by the cool- 
ness with which he always saw them executed. He was animated, 
brave and useful. Major William B. Barney and Adjutant 
Lemuel Taylor, of the cavalry, who, having no opportunity of 
distinction in their regiment owing to the grounds, did me great 
service, the former, in aiding Captain Montgomery, the latter, in 
conveying my orders through the whole. Mr. Pvobert Goodloe 
Harper deserves my thanks. He visited me just before the action, 
accompanied the advanced party, and aided me much throughout. 
The brave soldiers under my command have suftered many pri- 
vations, and I recognize among our killed and wounded many 
valuable men ; of which I will make a report in a few days. 
I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 

JOHN STEICKEE. 

Captain John Montgomery was as brave an officer 
as ever drew a sword, and it is but a matter of simple 
justice to young Stansbury, to record upon these pages 
that Captain Montgomery, on repeated occasions, paid 
him high compliments for liis bravery as a private on 
the battle-field of North Point. 



48 MEMOIRS OP 

CHAPTER Y. 

Captain John Montgomery as State's Attorney. 

AYhen Captain Montgomery was State's Attorney 
for tlie Criminal Court of Baltimore, a trial was pend- 
ing in that Court against a person with whom Mr. 
Stansbury was associated in business. The ground of 
the suit was the supposed cruel treatment of a slave in 
defendant's employ, inflicted while Mr. Stansbury was 
in Annapolis. The plaintiff's counsel, in prosecuting 
the case, indulged in some vindictive language against 
Mr. Stansbury, implicating him in the case. As State's 
Attorney it was the duty of Captain Montgomery to 
prosecute all offences committed against the laws of the 
State — nevertheless, feeling that injustice was inflicted 
on Mr. Stansbury by his colleague, (the plaintiff's 
counsel,) he rose instantly and said: ''I emphatically 
repel the charge against Elijah Stansbury as an unjust 
one, for I know the man, and no person living shall 
utter a foul calumny against him. I know him to be 
a brave and gallant soldier, as well as a gentleman 
of untarnished honor. I knew his highly honored 
parents, who were once my neighbors in Harford 
county and were the peers of that community. How- 
ever much the person may be to blame who caused 
this suit, or what may be said against him in this 
prosecution, nevertheless I cannot stand here aud listen 
to assaults against Mr. Stansbury's character; nor will 
I tolerate any attempts to sully his honor while I have 
a voice or an opportunity to defend him. He was 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 49 

"with me at North Point to repel the British forces 
landing there, having in view the destruction of our 
beloved city. I speak of him as I know him. ^He 
is worth bis weight in gold ten times purified.' '' 

At tbe time referred to Mr. Stansbary was in the 
city of Annapolis, and knew nothing of the incident 
till informed of it by friends. Well might he feel 
proud of this voluntary eulogium, emanating as it did 
from the lips of a disinterested friend and gallant 
soldier, in commendation of the valuable services and 
good qualities of one whom he so meritedly admired, 
and whose subsequent life only tended to confirm all 
that had been uttered by the distinguished jurist. 

With what proud satisfaction must his venerable 
and honored father have dwelt upon the occurrence 
when it was brought to his knowledge ! and to illus- 
trate the patriotic spirit of Elijah Stansbury, Sr., we 
here give place to the following characteristic anecdote : 

When the war broke out he resided at his country- 
seat in Baltimore county. On the day the battle of 
North Point was fought, great excitement and anxiety 
prevailed among the people. Some of his neighbors 
visited the old homestead on that memorable day to 
chat upon the all-absorbing subject, and to dine with 
the hospitable host. In the course of conversation the 
old gentleman mentioned to his guests that he was 
proud to say he had seven sons under arms that day in 
defence of their country; and added with emphasis, 
in language becoming a true patriot, *' that he w^ould 
rather that all should be weltering in their blood upon 
the gory battle-field, than that even one of them should 



50 MEMOIRS OF 

falter, show the white feather or shrink from duty as 
a soldier." 

In furtlier evidence of the noble spirit that animated 
Colonel Stansbury, we will here state, that five years 
after his marriage (in 1822) his kind parents oiFered 
to give him a clear title to tlie old homestead in Bal- 
timore county, so dear in its reminiscences to the gen- 
erous donors. It was valued at eight thousand dollars. 
But the no less generous and grateful son most posi- 
tively declined the offer, assigning as a reason for so 
doing, that it was more than his just proportion of an 
estate to be divided among a large family of children. 
For this refusal, however, he was most severely re- 
buked by his father. 

As an illustration of the strong hold that Captain 
John Montgomery had upon the affections of his com- 
patriots, we give the following : On Monday, Septem- 
ber 28th, 1816, the Baltimore Union Artillery Com- 
pany, commanded by Captain J. S. Stiles, had a 
banquet at Watkin's Hotel, Howard street. General 
Samuel Smith presiding. The following, among other 
interesting proceedings, took place : 

Toast by Captain John Montgomery. The Baltbnore Union 
Artillery. Hereafter, when the story of the battle of North 
Point and the Defence of Baltimore shall be repeated, those in 
it will be remembered ; in the one they gallantly participated — 
in the other they won lasting honors : whereupon General Smith 
rose and made the following address : 

Gentlevien of the Union Artillery Company : 

Accept my thanks for the Jionor you ^jave conferred on me 
this day — a da}^ you celebrate as the anniversary of that on which 
your company covered itself with glory — a day that will be recol- 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUEY. 51 

lectcd by all of you with pleasure — a day on the annual return of 
which your sons will exultingly say to their sons, "and my father 
also was at the battle of North Point." You have added to my 
gratification by placing me near the gallant commander who led 
you to battle, and to the Brigadier-General whose exertions and 
gallantry on the memorable 12th of September, 1814, contributed 
eminentlj^ towards the safety and preservation of the city of Bal- 
timore. That you may long live to enjoy the honor gained by 
your company at the battle of North Point, is my sincere prayer. 

General Strieker made a similar speech, and oifered 
the following toast : 

John Montgomery, late commander of the Union Artillery 
Company. His cool and deliberate conduct at North Point, 
proved to us that on the field of Battle he was worthy of the 
trust reposed in him. Salute — three guns and nine cheers. 

Captain Montgomery made an appropriate reply, 
and drank the following toast: 

Commodore Rodgers. "Who is not animated at the sound of 
that hero's name? a name that inspired the hearts of all when 



It was in this year General Samuel Smith was 
elected to Congress with Peter Little, Esq. 

July Uhy 1816. The United Volunteers attached 
to the 5th Regiment of Maryland Militia, presented 
the Committee of Vigilance and Safety, the sum of 
$1,000 to assist in erecting the Battle Monument. 

The military career of Colonel Stansbury did not 
terminate with the war, for after the restoration of 
peace between Great Britain and the United States, he 
volunteered his services to Colonel Samuel Moore, 
Commander of the 27th Regiment Maryland Militia. 



52 MEMOIRS OF 

Colonel Moore duly appreciating the honorable record 
of Elijah Stansbury, immediately made application to 
Governor Thomas W. Veazy, for a Lieutenant's Com- 
mission in the 4th Company. The alacrity with 
which the Executive responded to Colonel Moore's 
application, was but another evidence of the strong- 
hold Mr. Stansbury had upon the confidence of his 
fellow-citizens, and deservedly so as the sequal proved, 
he subsequently rising from rank to rank till he finally 
became commander of the regiment, and continued in 
that responsible position till the militia system as then 
organized ceased to exist. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 53 

CHAPTEE VI. 

Battle of Life. 

In 1815, Mr. Stansbury directed liis attention to 
business, having faithfully, as already intimated, served 
out his apprenticeship to the trade of bricklaying. 
With that indomitable, independent spirit of self-re- 
liance, for which lie was distinguished, he determined 
to rely upon his own energies alone in entering the 
battle of life, although his father was in comfortable 
circumstances, and doubtless would have aided him 
had he sought his assistance ; but the son knowing 
his aged father had a family of thirteen children to 
provide for, magnanimously resolved to depend upon' 
his own exertions without adding to the cares of a 
parent who had been so kind to him in his tender 
years. What a noble example this to the young men 
of the present age. He had been often heard to say 
that if ever a man made a fortune by prosecuting his 
business with a singleness of purpose to attain that end 
honorably, he was determined to be that man. 

Although he practically understood his trade, yet he 
had never built by contract, as a master workman ; but 
this In no wise discouraged him. At this time, his 
brother, with whom he had learned his trade, and who 
had carried on largely, relinquished the business and 
moved to Louisiana. But Mr. Stansbury having seve- 
ral rich relatives, owning many houses, and yearly 
building others, was encouraged by them to persevere. 



54 MEMOIRS OF 

He at once secured the repairing of those houses and 
the buildings of others, besides, lie obtained the princi- 
pal part of his brother's customers. This gave him a 
start in business, and most zealously did he throw his 
spirit of enterprise into his vocation. 

In 1817, being then twenty-five years of age, Mr. 
Stansbury married a most estimable young lady. Miss 
Eliza Eckel, the second daughter of Philip P. Eckel, 
Esq., of Baltimore. He prosecuted the business of 
bricklaying for ten years, the fruits of his labor and 
enterprise being a handsome competency. After this 
he commenced merchandizing in lime, bricks, hair, 
cement, calcined plaster, groceries, dry goods; and 
entered largely into the manufacture of botanic medi- 
cines, known by the name of Thomson! an Medicine. 
'The firm, in the medicine line, consisted of G. Myers, 
E. Stansbury and Dr. Thomson, The place of the 
latter business was at the corner of President and 
Fawn streets; and the former, corner of Albemarle 
and Fawn streets, where Colonel Stansbury lived forty- 
three years, about which time he met with an accident 
which partially dislocated his right hip, rendering it 
imperative that he should retire from business, he 
being then (1862) in his seventy -second year, ofien 
expressing his grateful thanks to a kind and over- 
ruling Providence for his success in life, and the secur- 
ing by industry of an ample provision for the balance 
of his life and that of his amiable consort. 

In politics Colonel Stansbury was always an inflexi- 
ble and uncompromising Democrat of the old school, 
having imbibed his principles in early youth from his 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 55 

father, who was doubtless a great friend and lover of 
his country, having been often heard to declare that 
Iiis greatest pride was that he inherited the honor of 
Jiaving been born in the United States of America, 
and being a Democrat from principle, because he 
believed that Democracy promoted the greatest hap- 
piness of the greatest number, and thereby secured the 
civil rights and religious liberties of the people; that 
he thought the Federalists were not tenable in their 
doctrines, and certainly were unstable in action, having 
often in his. time changed their name; whereas the 
Democrats were firm and united as Democrats and 
continued always so, having never been known by 
any other title. Not so the Federalists — for the form 
being changed the substance of the thing is destroyed. 
This was the status of the venerable father, who was 
remarkably independent and unwavering in maintain- 
ing his principles. And when he thought the liberties 
of the people were assailed and their interests or happi- 
ness trampled upon, he was ever ready to defend them 
with all proper and honorable means in his power, 
regardless of consequences — even to the sacrifice of his 
best friends and his dearest interests, if they stood in 
his way; yea, even to the loss of life if needs be. By 
pursuing this independent course Elijah Stansbury, Sr., 
rendered himself very unpopular among his felow-citi- 
zens of the Federal party; nevertheless his motto was, 
" this hand is hostile to tyrants." As it was Avith the 
father, so was it with the son. Equally firm in main- 
taining his political views, the son was no less steadfast 
and sound in his moral principles, having repeatedly 



66 MEMOIRS OF 

expressed himself openly to the effect that man should 
ever plant himself upon the broad platform of truth, 
whether in morals, politics or religion; that this was 
the only sure and proper principle, leading always to 
good results and fitting him for the harmonies of 
another and a better Avorld. He maintained that 
honesty in every relation of life should be embraced 
and practised, regarding hypocracy as an abomination 
that should be shunned by every true-hearted man. 
Although fully aware that it was a common sentiment 
among many well-meaning politicians, that trickery 
and deception in elections could be practised without 
reproach, yet such was the sterling honesty of Colonel 
Stansbury that he never could be brought to that way 
of thinking during the whole course of his long politi- 
cal life; but, on the contrary, he thought the elective 
franchise one of the most inestimable and sacred privi- 
leges conferred upon man in a Republican government 
— the best form of government ever God had vouch- 
safed to mortals — and that its perpetuation depended 
solely upon the purity of the ballot-box ; and therefore 
honesty should always be practised in the exercise of 
this precious privilege ever dear to freemen. He has 
been heard to say that there was not a shadow of doubt 
that gigantic frauds in this particular had been prac- 
tised by all political parties, but notwithstanding this 
the practise was rendered none the less reprehensible 
and criminal ; that he thought the voter found guilty 
of knowingly voting, in violation of law, more than 
once, or receiving money or any other consideration to 
influence him to vote for a candidate, or for such politi- 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 57 

cal ^jrliiciplcs as his own judgment did not dictate, 
should, upon conviction, be deprived of the right of 
suffrage during the rest of his natural life — a like 
penalty to be visited upon the person bribing or offer- 
ing to bribe. Colonel Stansbury had been for many 
years before the people for their suffrage ; and to his 
enduring honor be it here recorded, that repeatedly 
had he been heard to declare, in the most solemn and 
emphatic manner, that if he could be induced to believe 
that he had received even one more vote than his oppo- 
nent, anvl that vote was an illegal one, he would at 
once decline the position thus conferred upon him. We 
would here add, that Colonel Stansbury was ever true 
to his principles most scrupulously, so far indeed as to 
never, in all his long political life, even to solicit a 
vote for himself under any circumstances whatever. 

The year 1824 was rendered an epoch In the life of 
Colonel Stansbury by his first entrance into public life, 
having been elected on Monday, October 4th, in the 
Fourth Ward, to the First Branch of the City Coun- 
cil, while at the same election his gallant commander. 
Captain John Montgomery, was elected Mayor of the 
City, the following being the official vote. 

The following vote for all the officers Is appended 
because several other Defenders were elected, and there- 
fore will prove interesting to the reader : 



68 



MEMOIRS OF 



Tuesday Mok.mxg, Octoljcr 5th, IS21. 
ELECTION RETURNS. 



■WARDS. 
1st..... 


Congress — Baltimore 

w 
1-1 

376 


City. 




2d 


558 


873 


3d 


809 


514 


4th 


712 


352 


5th 


.' 367 


^•n 


6th 


401 


262 


7th 


302 


223 


8th 


375 


187 


9th 


417 


249 


10th 


....' 629 


262 


11th 


553 


924 


12th 


771 


307 



Total 6,270 

Congress^ County. 

DISTRICTS. 

1st (Kelly's) 354 

2d (Green's) 242 

3d (Little's) 

4th (Woollery's) 

5th (Reisterstown) 

6th (Hessen's) 

7th (Govanstown) 353 

8th (Cockoy's) 

9th (Weis's) 

10th (Shide's) 

11th (King's) 180 

12th (Johnson's) 215 

Total, (as far as heard from).. 1,344 
Total, City 6,270 

Total, City and County 7,614 



3,443 



175 

91 

139 



145 

210 

1,011 
3,443 

4,454 



Note.— Tliough these returns thus far were imperfect, Messrs. Little and 
M'Kim were the successful candidates. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 59 

Assembly — City. 



iz; . 2 w r' 



< ^ ^ S a p g 

^ g « g S ^ 6 

W H ph p o P ^ 

,.. 248 195 79 165 10 26 28 

335 286 148 270 23 48 57 

458 389 297 177 11 25 76 

387 398 316 151 34 50 64 

229 1G4 126 132 19 32 61 

293 190 198 137 19 32 58 

268 114 112 136 6 25 23 

182 193 206 81 12 47 24 

300 217 169 125 11 37 17 

396 297 331 148 34 84 47 

...- 298 298 243 153 21 46 66 

400 386 318 220 27 76 51 

TotiU 3,794 3,127 2,543 1,895 227 528 572 



Mayoralty. 









o W 5 f^ 



^ ^ r/2 

135 313 15 

302 362 13 

402 441 40 

481 304 35 

163 243 27 

227 226 53 

120 199 56 

189 121 126 

138 163 181 

316 208 203 

354 181 108 

506 233 98 

Total 3,333 2,994 950 

Mr. Montgomery'.'^ majority, 339. 



60 MEMOIRS OF 

Sheriffalty — Gily. 



)^ 

o 

WAEDS. ^ 

1st 351 

2d 437 

3d 393 

4tli ■. 401 

5th 183 

6th 182 

7th 149 

8th 151 

9th 165 

10th 277 

11th 218 

12th 333 

Total 3,240 





< 
Q 


< 
> 


126 


9 


10 


263 


26 


60 


514 


46 


62 


436 


66 


85 


263 


43 


29 


326 


77 


16 


193 


115 


6 


293 


54 


16 


288 


129 


8 


427 


182 


13 


372 


182 


14 


509 


184 


11 



4,010 1,113 



Sheriffalty — County 

DISTRICTS. 

1st (Kelly's) 101 

2d (Green's) 159 

3d (Little's) 

4th (WooUery's) 

6th (Reisterstown).... 

6th (Hessen's) 

7th (Govanstown) 297 

8th (Cockey's) 

9th (Weis's) 

10th (Slade's) 

nth (King's) 

12th (Johnson's) 239 



311 
116 



123 



48 



59 
10 



53 



Total (heard from). 



769 



598 



10 
132 



40 
115 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 61 

City Council. 

FIRST WABD. 

First Branch — James H. Clarke, 270 ; John H. Browning, 
243; Isaac Atkinson, 163; James P. Smith, 103. 
Second Branch — David Burke. 

vSECOND WARD. 

First Branch— Wm. Hubhard, 524; Frederick Shaffer, 443; 
Dr. John Stafford, 253. 

Second Branch — Philip Moore, 643. 

THIRD WARD. 

First Branch — Hezekiah Niles, 528; Charles Diffenderfer, 438; 
Jonathan Fitch, 400 ; Maybury Parks, 190. 

Second Branch — Daniel Bosley, 448 ; "William Keany; 396. 

FOURTH WARD. 

First Brajich— Michael Klinefelter, 386; Elijah Stansbury, 
383; Archibald Stirling, 356; Lambert Thomas, 336. 

Second Branch — Dr. C. G. Stevenson, 358 ; Thomas Kelso, 
302; John H. Barney, 120, 

FIFTH WARD. 

First Branch— James B. Bosley, 321 ; B. C. Eoss, 233 ; John 
Pranciscus, 207. 

Second Branch — Wm. Meeteer, 415, 

SIXTH WARD. 

First Branch— John B. Morris, 391 ; John White, 354; Edw'd 
J. Coale, 194. 

Second Branch — James Beatty, 481. 

SEVENTH WARD. 

First Branch— \JY>ton S. Heath, 202; E. L. Finley, 188; 
Steuart Brown, 162; John I. Donaldson, 125. 
Second Branch — James Mosher, 36 L 

4 



62 MEMOIES OF 



EIGHTH WAPvD. 



First Branch — Colonel Samuel Moore, 258 : Benjamin Eaw- 
lings, 208 ; Daniel Schwartzauer, 173 ; Nathan Grafton, 133. 
Second Branch— Vciev Gold, 363. 



NINTH WARD. 



First ^ronc7«— Alexander Eussell, 239; Noah Eidgely, 220 
Wm. Baltzell 179; Thomas Eussell, 159. 
'' Second Branch — Eobert Miller, Jr., 445. 



TENTH WAKD. 



First Branch — John Eeese, 648 ; James Curley, 527 ; Dr. Geo. 
Williamson, 151. 

Second Branch — Benjamin Ellicott, 085. 



ELEYENTH WAED. 



First Branch — Joseph Gushing, 413 ; John Lynch, 319; Beale 
Eandall, 183 ; Wm. Preston, 111 ; John W. Glenn, 110. 
Second Branch — Henry Stouffer, 361 ; George Hebb, 249. 

TWELFTH WARD. 

First Branch— WiWiavA Krebs, 613; Eezin Wight, 567 ; Ben- 
jamin Comegj^s, 309. 

Second Branch — Wm. P. Patterson, 439 ; Moses Hand, 330. 

At this time, solid business men were sent to the 
Councils — men in whom the people had the greatest 
confidence. Such men, for instance, as Hezekiah 
Nilcs, Upton S. Heath, John B. Morris, Elijah Stans- 
bury, Ebenezer L. Finley, Colonel James Mosher, 
Colonel Samuel Moore, Phil. Moore, &c. &c. 

There was on this occasion extraordinary bustle and 
excitement in Baltimore, because the election of all the 
principal Officers came together, as was the case once 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUllY. 63 

in six years, viz : Members of Congress, Delegates to 
the General Assembly, Sheriff and the Mayor of the 
city, with the members of both branches of the City 
Council. 

On Monday, all ^yas dissention and confusion, for 
parties in respect to most of the candidates, were very 
nearly balanced. Those that were warmly contending 
one against the other on the 4th of October, and doing 
all they could to defeat and confound one another, were 
agreed at least on one point, for the noble Lafayette 
had arrived as the "nation's guest," and every heart 
was delighted ; and as if one man possessed every 
heart in Baltimore, it w^as tendered to him warm and 
unalloyed by recollections of late differences, manifest- 
ing the glorious truth that opposing opinions may not 
rest on opposing principles, and that persons may 
equally love their country and its benefactors, no mat- 
ter what individuals they support at the polls ; a state 
of things that cannot exist in any other than a free and 
enlightened nation, in which each man, jealous of his 
own rights, is willing to yield an exercise of the same 
rights to his felloAV. This is the purity of a true re- 
publican system, the safety of the state pride of its 
citizens, and should be cherished as the life's blood of 
all liberal institutions. 



64 MEMOIRS OF 



CHAPTER VII. 
Keception of Lafayette. 



General Lafayette, with his son George Wash- 
ington Lafayette and Secretary, arrived in Baltimore, 
on Thursday, the 7th of October, 1824, in the steam- 
boat United States, accompanied by the civic and 
military committees who had proceeded to Frenchtown 
to receive him. He landed at Fort McHenry, where 
he was met by the venerable Charles Carroll of 
Carrollton, Colonel John Eager Howard and Colonel 
Paul Bentalou, and several other distinguished gentle- 
men of the " oldentime '' with whom he had cooperated 
to fight for our liberties. The General was received on 
the platform at Fort McHenry, by Colonel Hindman, 
of tlie Army of the United States, and Edward G. 
Woodyear, Esq., a member of the committee of arrange- 
ments. The officers of the army and navy, then in 
Baltimore, the citizen volunteers at Fort McHenry 
during the bombardment, the committee of vigilance 
and safety of 1814, the members of the City Council, 
of which Colonel Stansbury was a member, and the 
officers of the late 36th and 38th United States Kegi- 
ments of Infantry had their stations, and the General 
marched through their line on his way up to the "Star 
Fort.'^ Upon entering the gate, the troops of the 
garrison presented arms — then opened to the right 
and left, which brought to liis view the Tent of 
Washington ! Whereupon, Governor Stevens ad- 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. G5 

vanced from the tent and greeted him with an eloquent 
address, at the conclusion of which he conducted the 
noble old hero to the tent, Avhere he found the Society 
of Cincinnati, the patriarchs of the Revolution. Here 
he was received and embraced by all of them, the 
scene being one of the most impressive and heart- 
touching that was ever witnessed; all present being 
bathed in tears, but they were tears of joy and gratula- 
tion. As soon as the sacred feeling of the occasion 
had somewhat abated. Colonel Howard presented an 
address in behalf of himself and comrades in arms, to 
which the General made a warm and feeling reply. 

The General was then handed into a splendid 
barouche, drawn by four elegant black horses, attended 
by grooms in full livery. Seated with him were 
Charles Carroll of Carrolton, General Samuel Smith 
and Colonel John Eager Howard. In the second wei-e 
the GeneraFs son, • Monsieur Le Vasseur, Secretary, 
and Governor Stevens. In the third. General Strieker, 
Colonel Bentalou and Mr. De Bois Martin, and the 
Committee of Arrangements and the Society of Cin- 
cinnati, City Council, followed in carriages. Upon 
passing the outer gate of the Fort, the General was 
received by the whole body of cavalry which were 
there stationed. The first city troops preceded him, 
the second city troop fell in after the carriages, and the 
escort was closed by the remaining troops, comprising a 
corps of seven or eight hundred horse, well mounted 
and handsomely equipped. As he passed Federal Hill, 
a detachment of artillery saluted him with twenty-four 
guns. 



6(y ' MEMOIRS OF 

The General entered the city at what was then called 
Forrest street, and at the intersection of Montgomery 
street, he passed under a beautiful cIvig arch erected by 
the patriotic citizens of what was then the eighth w-ard. 
The arch liad a span of forty feet, flanked by one on' 
each end of fifteen feet span, all richly hung with 
drapery and festoons of evergreens and flowers. The 
main arch was surmounted by a large and well exe- 
cuted artificial eagle with extended wings, bearing in 
its beak a wreath of laurel. On the smaller arches were 
the mottoes "Brandy wine,'' '^Yorktown'' — and on 
the principal arch, " Welcome Lafayette ! '' The pro- 
cession passed through Forrest, Lee, Sharp, Pratt and 
Paca streets, greeted with the heartfelt huzzas of the 
citizens and the weaving of handkerchiefs from every 
position which afforded the least prospect of beholding 
the noble old gentleman. At the intersection of Paca 
and Baltimore streets, the General remained in the 
front barouche alone, the gentlemen accompanying him 
thus far now taking their seats in the second and third 
barouches. As the General entered Baltimore street, 
the elevated ground rendered him a conspicuous object 
for many squares below, ten thousands of voices now 
sent up a united shout of welcome. 

At the intersection of Baltimore and Eutaw streets, 
(it being the original line of Baltimore city,) was 
erected, fronting to the w^est, the city arch. This noble 
and elegant structure was composed of three semi-cir- 
cular arches. The centre arch was forty feet in chord 
over the coach way: the lateral ones were about twelve 
feet in chord, all springing from the same line, and on 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 67 

piers or pedestals of suitable proportion ; the whole 
bearing the character of the beautiful clouded marble 
of the Susquehanna in Maryland, and of much the 
same character of the Corova marble of Italy. The 
outer line of each archivolt was formed by a wreath of 
laurel, from which (at about one foot apart) radiated 
well polished bayonets. On the vertex of the great 
arch was the great star of fellowship, in a blue field 
encircled by thirteen silver stars, from which radiated 
the national ensigns, including that of Hibernia. The 
extremities of the staifs formed a semi-circle, in the 
vertex of which was a large golden eagle with a foster- 
ing expanse of his wings, grasping the upper edge of a 
laurel wreath encirclino; the o;olden letter "G.'^ In 
the face of the great archivolt, in large golden letters, 
was ^' Welcome our Friend ! '^ The north or rigl^ 
archivolt had on its face the name of Washington — 
as had the south that of Lafayette in golden letters, 
each bearing respectively the marble busts of Lafayette 
and Washington encircled in wreaths of laurel, over 
which was a silver star resting on the national cockade 
of red, Vv^hite and blue, and from which fell the drapery 
festooned over the wreath and arch. On the pedestals 
at the springing of the arches, were raised blockings 
bearing on the face of the north arc the golden figures 
of "1776," and on that of the south " 1824"— sup- 
porting each Si fasees of muskets with fixed bayonets, 
bound by bonds bearing on them in golden letters the 
names of " Yorktown/^ " BmndywinCy^ " Trenton/' 
" Monmouth,'^ &c. 



68 MEMOIRS OF 

The patriotic citizens of the third, fourth, fifth 
and sixth wards, had erected a similar and equally 
beautiful civic arch, at a short distance from the 
eastern side of the bridge, rising to a lofty and im- 
posing height, of thirty-six feet span in the clear. 

After passing nnder the city arch, the General 
entered upon the right of the line of splendid artillery, 
infantry and riflemen, stationed in the order designated 
by the Major-General of the division. There were 
several thousand troops in line — coming, many of 
them, from the rural districts of Maryland, and even 
other cities. For elegance of dress and soldier-like 
appearance, we were assured by those who had seen the 
parades in the eastern cities, that the Baltimore troops 
far surpassed those of their sister cities. Colonel Stans- 
bury was then in commission as Captain in the 4th 
Company of Infantry, 27th Regiment, and participated 
in the honors of the day. 

The General received the salutes of the different 
corps as he passed the line uncovered, while from the 
w^indows and other positions along the street, thou-, 
sands of snow-white handkerchiefs were waved by the 
ladies, adorned in their loveliest smiles and gayest 
attire. As the General passed down the line, a sacred 
and interesting relic of the revolution was presented to 
his notice — Pulaski's standard, &c. Continuing along 
the line, cheer after cheer of heartfelt gratitude assailed 
his ears, till overcome by his feelings, the brave old 
.man burst into tears! and how could it be otherwise? 

When he reached the bridge, he passed under thir- 
teen arches, representing the old thirteen states. These 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 69 

were placed at equal distances, and were decorated with 
a profusion of variegated lamps, wdiich, with the trans- 
parencies on the principal arch already referred to, w^ero 
to be illuminated in the evening. 

When the General arrived at the end of the line, 
he was again received by the escort of the city troops, 
the Cincinnati and the corporation committees. He 
was then conducted through Great York, (now East 
Baltimore,) Market, (now Broadway,) Fell's, Bond 
and Pratt streets, throughout which the same undi- 
minished enthusiasm and testimonies of joy and grati- 
tude were exhibited towards hira. On entering Gay 
street, he passed in view of the boys belonging to the 
different schools, with their teachers at their head, 
drawn up six deep, in uniform dress, and wearing 
^'Lafayette badges^' on the lapels of their jackets, and 
such cheers were sent up by this juvenile band as to 
make the ^^ very welkin ring ! " It was to this body 
belonged the writer of these line, who was at that time 
a mere boy, and to him it seemed the happiest moment 
of his life. The badges worn by the boys were made 
of silk, bearing the likeness of Lafayette with the 
caption : " Welcome the Nation^ s Guest ! '' 

Passing up Gay street, the General alighted at the 
principal entrance of the Exchange, and was conducted 
into the great hall or rotunda, where the ]\Iayor and 
City Councils were in waiting to receive him. The 
seats on the floor were occupied by distinguished stran- 
gers, deputations from neighboring cities and towns, 
revolutionary soldiers, and officers of the navy and 
army — the galleries being occupied by ladies. The 
4* 



70 MEMOIRS OF 

" Nation's Guest " was conducted to an elevated plat- 
form at the west end of the hall, the floor of which 
was covered with crimson cloth — at each end w^as a 
marble bust of Washington and Hamilton. Upon 
this the General was received by the Mayor, who 
addressed him in feeling and elegant terms, the Gen- 
eral replying with such deep emotion as to sensibly 
affect his utterance. 

When the reply of the General was delivered, the 
members of the Corporation were respectively intro- 
duced ; after which a number of the soldiers of the 
revolution, who had been mustered by Colonel James 
Mosher. The scene was highly interesting — tears of 
joy rolled down the furrowed cheeks of these venerable 
few of *' the days of glory, '^ who doubtless would have 
cheerfully fought their battles over again with their 
beloved General. " I wore this cockade at Mon- 
mouth,'^ said one, pointing to it on his hat, — " I was 
by your side at Brandywine,'^ said another, — and a 
third pronounced the word ^' Yorktown.'^ Lafayette 
was exceedingly affected. 

The Mayor also introduced to the General, Alex. 
McKim, William Patterson, Samuel Hollingsworth 
and Nathaniel Levy, as a small remnant, as he ob- 
served, of the gallant and patriotic troop of '' first 
Baltimore cavalry '^ who voluntarily repaired to the 
standard of Lafayette on his call upon Maryland for 
soldiers, and fought under him in Virginia, during 
the campaign in 1781. 

Desirous of causing as little fatigue as possible to the 
General, in receiving the welcome of the citizens, the 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUKY. 71 

number of introductions was limited — it being gener- 
ally understood that the presentations would come off 
on the 8th, at the Exchange. Therefore, after a short 
interval, the General again entered his barouche and 
was escorted to an elevated pavilion at the corner of 
Light and Baltimore streets, accompanied by the Gov- 
ernor, members of the Cincinnati, Mayor and members 
of the Councils and several distinguished strangers, 
Avhere he received the passing salute of all the troops 
under arms, commencing with the cavalry. It was 
perhaps the most splendid military display that our 
country can easly furnish, Baltimore having long been 
famous for the number and the beautiful uniforms of 
lier volunteer corps ; which on the occasion had been 
joined by old friends from York, Pennsylvania, and 
several companies from Frederick, Annapolis, Elk- 
ridge, Prince George's, New Lisbon, &c., &c., horse 
and foot. The ceremony occupied upwards of an hour. 
During the passing salute of the military an incident 
occurred which is worthy of special notice. An asso- 
ciation of youths called the ^'De Kalb Cadets,^' were 
admitted into the line on the left of the National 
Guards. The Marshals of the association had each a 
scroll in his hand, bound with blue ribbon, upon which 
was inscribed the word ^' gratitude!'^ As they arrived 
in succession at the pavilion, each Marshal deposited 
his scroll at the foot of the General. He repeatedly 
opened and closed his arms, as if in the act of press- 
ing them to his heart; and, when the procession had 
ended, he suddenly turned away and burst into tears ! 
And his were not the only moist eyes that were pres- 



72 MEMOIRS OF 

ent. We have read of Koman Triumplis, but never, 
never ^vas there before this such a triumph on record 
— essentially a " Triumph of Liberty ! '^ 

He was then escorted to his lodgings at the Foun- 
tain Inn, where he reposed himself for about an hour, 
being suffered to remain undisturbed. The whole 
street was filled with a mighty mass of people who 
liad not yet seen him, or were anxious to have another 
look at his benevolent face; but every thing was 
orderly and respectful, notwithstanding the pressure 
of the great crowd. After a while he again appeared, 
and, in company with the Mayor, both uncovered, 
passed through the multitude which opened right and 
left to make room for them, though every one was 
anxious to be near him to take him by the hand, and 
send up a brief but fervent prayer to heaven for his 
health and happiness. This occupied about an hour, 
when the Greneral again retired a short time to his 
chamber, previous to the time appointed for dining. 

The dinner was served up in the most splendid style 
in the magnificent room provided and furnished for the 
General. Nearly one hundred persons sat down to 
table, by invitation of the Committee of the Corpora- 
tion. After the cloth was removed, the "Nation's 
Guest '^ gave the following toast : 

" The CUy of Baltimore " — Glorious, beautiful and prosperous. 
May she more and more reap the honors and advantages of her 
patriotic spirit and republican institutions. 

We could write pages concerning the many interest- 
ing incidents of this good and brave man's visit to 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 73 

Ballimore alone, but limit admonishes; yet we cannot 
resist briefly noticing the Illumination, the General's 
visit to the Grand Lodge of Masons, and the Presenta- 
tions on Friday, October 8th. 

The Illumination. 

A general illumination took place in the evening. 
Intelligent travelers, who had witnessed such scenes in 
Europe and elsewhere, conceded tliat they never be- 
held a more splendid illumination ; and it is certain 
that no one ever was conducted in a more orderly 
manner. Not the least disturbance was made — nor 
did a single accident occur. The streets were in a 
fine condition for walking, and more than fifty thou- 
sand persons were moving about with unalloyed de- 
light and without confusion. There was no press — 
every one seemed to feel the necessity of observing a 
courteous deportment, and the most delicate female 
might have walked alone with perfect safety. The 
quiet that prevailed was no less remarkable. The 
transparancies, with their innumerable appropriate 
mottoes and surroundings, w^ere gotten up in a most 
elaborate, tastefully refined manner, and many in- 
stances at immense expense. The name of the Gen- 
eral often appeared in variegated lamps and his full 
length likeness was conspicuous in many transparan- 
cies, some of which were exceedingly beautiful. The 
General witnessed the whole of the illumination; the 
writer well remembering, though a mere boy then, that 
the illustrious guest passed him on Baltimore street, 



74 MEMOIRS OF 

between North and Gay streets, walking in company 
with General Robert Goodloe Harper, and many pass- 
ing were none the wiser of it till advised by some 
more knowing one. The old hero conld not fail of 
proclaiming his pleasure at the beauty and order of the 
scene. He felt that the manifestation of the people 
came from the heart, a compliment money cannot buy 
or wealth confer. By eleven o'clock the streets were 
cleared of people and the watchmen took peaceful 
charge of the property of our slumbering citizens, 
while tlie noble old soldier had sweet and pleasant 
dreams. 



\&^ 



COLONEL ELIJAH STA^'SBURY. 75 



CHAPTER YIII. 
Presentations. 

The next morning, Friday the 8tli, the General 
received the visits of a great number of the people, 
many bringing their children with them that they 
might hereafter have the proud privilege of saying 
they too had seen the good Lafayette ! He re- 
ceived them as a father, kissing and caressing the 
delighted little ones in the most affectionate manner. 

At twelve o'clock he proceeded to the great hall 
(rotunda) of tlie Exchange to receive the respects of 
the people at large. The crowd was immense; but 
by passing in at one door and out at another very 
many had the pleasure of taking him by the hand, 
and the writer of this has the proud satisfaction of 
numbering himself among them, but he had to work 
hard for it, worming himself through the crowd as boys 
only can do ; and when he touched that hand he felt 
as proud as some hero ! Shortly after the military 
officers, who had passed in review before him the pre- 
vious day, to the number of two hundred and seventy- 
six, having assembled at General Harper's, in south 
^Gay street, formed a procession and passing round the 
square entered the Exchange for presentation. Pre- 
vious to which General Harper addressed him in his 
usual eloquent style. Following the spirit of the 
address, Lafayette replied in a feeling and very im- 
pressive manner, expressing liis gratification at the 



76 MEMOIRS OF 

appeo ranee of the military, and his sincere hope that 
the great cause of constitutional liberty they all advo- 
cated, would finally be as triumphant in the old world 
as well as in the new. 

Then came the French residents of the city, headed 
by the venerable Mr. Du Bois Martin, each of whom 
took him by the hand. This was followed by an 
address from Mr. Girardin, Principal of Baltimore 
College, which was highly spoken of as a splendid 
composition. 

At five o'clock, P. M., the General sat down to 
dinner with the Corporation. All the profusion and 
taste of the Fountain Inn were again displayed, about 
ninety persons being present, consisting of the mem- 
bers of the City Council and other officials, the Com- 
mittee of Arrangement, the deleo^ations from various 
towns and other invited guests, every thing passing 
off in the most agreeable manner possible. The old 
became young, and the young rejoiced — as gentlemen 
and freemen always should. 

YisiT TO THE Grand Lodge. 

At little past seven o'clock, the General proceeded 
to visit his Masonic brethren, assembled in the Grand 
Lodge in the great room of the Masonic Hall in St. 
Paul street, which was splendidly illuminated and 
decorated throughout. On the portico, in the front, 
was placed a beautiful transparency, the design of. 
which manifested much taste — representing a figure of 
Charity — having upon her lap a cornucopia, and 
holding in her right hand a pitcher of oil and wine ; a 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUllY. t I 

poor youth standing on lier right in the attitude of 
receiving her bounty. Upon her left was a naked 
infant, with its foot upon a globe, indicating its first 
entrance into the world, with hands extended towards 
Charity as if asking a share of her kindness. The 
interior of the hall was lighted and ornamented iu 
the highest Masonic style, and filled with the mem- 
bers of the fraternity, as indeed were all the adjacent 
rooms. Preceded by his son, George Washington 
La Fayette and Secretary, the General entered the 
Lodge, where he was received with appropriate cere- 
mony and elected an honorary member. Col. Benja- 
min C. Howard, (son of the hero of the Cowpens, 
&c.,) the Grand Master, on delivering the diploma, 
addressed him in a very eloquent and impressive man- 
ner, to which the General made a very feeling reply. 
His eyes were filled with tears, and the example was 
contagious. The Grand Master especially Avas deeply 
affected. The ceremony was, altogether, highly grati- 
fying to the brethren. The General, before retiring 
from the Lodge, accepted an invitation to dine with 
the fraternity upon his return to Baltimore. 

On leaving his Masonic brethren at the hall, the 
General repaired to a fete of another and still more 
splendid description, where there was all that could 
delight the eye, the ear and the heart. It was the 
grandest entertainment of the kind ever witnessed in 
the city, both as regards the style and taste of the 
decorations, and the brilliant and elegant appearance of 
the company, which was far more numerous than usu- 
ally assembled here on the occasion of a Grand Ball. 



78 MEMOIRS OF 

A Grand Ball and Supper 

came off at the Assembly Rooms and Holliday Street 
Theatre — which were connected by a temporary pas- 
sage for the purpose — the latter for the ball and the 
former for the supper. It would be impossible to give 
the faintest idea of the affair in a brief sketch. The 
decorations were magnificent. We will barely give 
some of the many mottoes that in gold letters adorned 
the interior of the buildings. 

"i?e«r loelcoyyic in your eye^ your tongue^ your heari.'^^ 
'■•The ninteenth of Octohcr, 1781." 

The mottoes in the theatre were all taken from 
Shakespeare. Round the circle in the centre of the 
floor, was this line : 

^^More is thy due than viore than all can pay.''^ 

And round the semi-circles at each end were : 

"i>e kind and courteous to this yentleman.-' 

And 

'^Welco7ne ever smiles.'^ 

Omitting many others, we give the most strikingly 
appropriate inscription : 

" Welcome brave captain and victorious lo7'd! 
"When I. was young, (as yet I am not old,) 
I do remember how my fatlier said, 
A stouter champion never handled sword. 
Long since we vv^ere resolved of your truth. 
Your faithful services and your toil in war." 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 79 

The boxes were decorated with flowery chaplets, and 
the columns tastefully entwined with spiral bauds of 
flowers, adding much to the gay appearance of the 
spectacle. 

There were more than one thousand two hundred 
persons present, and we shall only add, that when the 
ladies were seated at the five upper tables, such a group 
of exquisite beauty and fashion never before gave lustre 
to an assembly in the new world. 

On Saturday he visited the University of Maryland, 
at ten o'clock in the morning, and in the afternoon 
dined with the "Society of Cincinnati of Maryland,'' 
at the mansion of James A. Buchanan in Monument 
Square. On Sunday he attended divine v/orship at the 
Cathedral. On Monday, October 11th, he reviewed 
the 3d Division of troops at Whetstone Point, under 
the command of Major-General Harper. After the 
review, the division escorted him to the Washing- 
ton turnpike, where he took affectionate leave of the 
division. 

He stopped over night at Rossburg, and next 
morning entered Washington, where a grand recep- 
tion awaited him. 

The variety of circumstances under which he passed 
through the United States as the "]N"ation's Guest," 
tended to render the welcome truly grand and affect- 
ing. The deep-mouthed cannon roared their loud and 
warlike welcome — the soul-stirring trump breathed 
forth its clear and martial all hail ! — harmonious music 
floated along the air — the gay, the shrill, the rapturous 
notes of the fife ascended aloft — the drums rolled their 



80 MEMOIRS OF 

accordant battle sound — the bells '^ pealed the notes 
Omnipotent to charm ; '^ but resonant over every other 
sound, was heard redoubled and predominant, the well 
known name of the object of a nation's rapture, with a 
power, a deafening power, that caused the ears of every 
true patriot to tingle with delight — Huzza ! Lafayette ! 
Lafayette ! rang from the voices of the multitudes that 
roll on, and on, and on, like wave after wave of the 
ocean in numbers. Lafayette! beat in every grateful 
heart — Lafayette ! hung on every lip — Lafayette ! 
burst from every tongue — Lafayette ! glowed on every 
cheek — Lafayette! glistened in every swimming eye — 
Lafayette ! swelled on every gale. 

f As an evidence that republics are not ungrateful, the 
18th Congress of the United States passed an Act 
December 21st, 1824, to the effect that two hundred 
thousand dollars in stock, dated July 4th, 1824, 
should be issued to Major-General Lafayette. 
Also one complete and entire township of land, and 
that patents be instantly issued to the noble patriot 
for the same — all of which taken together, being 
estimated to be equal to two millions of francs in 
the currency of his native land — thus rendering this 
worthy old soldier perfectly independent for the re- 
mainder of his days. And when he left for his native 
shore, he carried with him the blessings and grateful 
prayers of ten millions of people for his safe passage 
and an unalloyed, happy old age. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 81 



CHAPTER IX. 

The Colonel's First Entrance into Public Life. 

Truly, then, this was an auspicious year for Colonel 
Btansbury to enter public life, and it seemed to augur 
^vell for him, as did the sequel prove. Baltimore was 
comparatively in her infancy, the population being then 
3ut 62,627. As a matter of interest to the general 
reader, we would state some interesting facts relating 
:o the population of the city, beginning from 1790 — 
ust one year before the birth of Elijah Stansbury — 
ivhen the population was 13,503, being about 2,000 
less than the population of a single ward at this 
:ime of writing, 1874. In 1800, the population was 
26,514; increase in ten years 13,011 — nearly doubling 
in ten years. In 1810 the whole number of population 
was 46,555; increase in ten years 20,041. In 1820 
'otal population was 62,627 ; increase in ten years 
16,072. Of the last census, (1820,) 10,326 were free 
people of color, and 4,357 slaves; 1,659 foreigners not 
oaturalized. In this connection, we would here give 
1 striking instance of fluctuation in population. In 
1820 it was estimated that in 1816 the population of 
Baltimore was at least 10,000 more than that of 1820 ! 
which was accounted for by the fact, that for some time 
after the conclusion of the war there was a steady influx 
of strangers; it was difficult to get houses to shelter 
them ; but the artificial excitement having subsided, 
most of these retired, and ''dull times" following, in- 
duced many merchants, mechanics, professional men, 



82 MEMOIRS OF 

and free white laborers to seek their fortunes abroad. 
It was iu 1820 that Tobias E. Stansbury, Esq., was 
elected Speaker of the House of Delegates, and during 
this session the General Government adjusted the 
claims of Maryland for militia expenses in the war 
to the amount of $93,090. The population of ISIary- 
land this year was 407,350 — that of the United States 
being 9,625,734. 

Mr. Stansbury proved himself a useful working 
member of the City Council, advocating every meas- 
ure calculated to further the interests of Baltimore; 
and so faithful was he in the discharge of his duties, 
that he gained the confidence of his constituents, w^ho 
continued him in the Councils eight consecutive years, 
at the expiration of which, in 1832, he retired from his 
municipal relations, honored and respected by his col- 
leagues and fellow-citizens — and this was no common 
mark of consideration, when it is well known that in 
these times men were selected for public office more 
for personal merit than otherwise,— in confirmation of 
this, we append a list of the members of both branches 
in Mr. Stausbury's sixth year of service as Councilman, 
1830 — public schools having been established the year 
previously. 

City Council. — Elect. 

The following is a list of the members of the City Council^ 
elected October, 1830. 

FIRST WAKD. 

First Branch— -^Feter Fenby, -E. D. Millhollaiul. 
Second BrancJi — William Inloes. 



Those marked thus * were new members. 



C0L02sEL ELIJAH STANSBUEY. 83 

SECOND WARD. 

Hubbard 
Second Braiich — Philip Moore. 

THIRD WARD. 

First Branch — "Wm. H. Hanson, --^Charles Diifenderffer. 
Second Branch — Wm. Reaney. 

rOURTH WARD. 

First Branch — Lambert Thomas, Elijah Stansbury, Jr. 
Second Branch — ^Joshua Mott. 

FIFTII WARD. 

First Branch — B. C. Eoss, Wm. Meeteer. 
Second Branch — Baltzer Scha?ifer. 

SIXTH WARD. 

First Branch — J. I. Cohen, Jr., -John B. Morris, 
Second Branch — Philip Laurenson. 

SEVENTH WARD. 

Miwiroc 
Second Branch — P. Lucas, Jr. 

EIGHTH WARD. 

First Branch — ^Zachariah Woollen, *John Denakcr. 
Second Branch — "^Samuel Moore. 

NINTH WARD. 

First Branch — *Noali Ridgcly, *Alex, Russell. 
Second Branch — -^^'Richard Bevan, Sr. 

TENTH WARD. 

First 5rowc7i— ^Frederick Sevier, Dr. M. S. Baor. 
Second Branch — -Mark Grafton, 



84 MExMOIES OF 

ELEVENTH WARD. 

First Branch 

Second Branch — Hcnn' Stouffer. 

TWELFTH WARD. 

First Branch — ^'Valentine Dushane, ^'George W. Williamson 
Second Branch — *George Keyser. 

It was during Mr. Stansbury's time in the Councils, 
(1827,) that the Jew Bill was enacted by the Maryland 
Legislature ; and the first of that persuasion elected to 
the City Council was J. J. Cohen, Esq., from the sixth 
ward, a gentleman of acknowledged worth in all the 
relations of citizenship. Mr. S. Etting, of the same 
creed, was, likewise, subsequently elected from another 
ward. 

We are gratified to find a more enlarged and en- 
lightened spirit prevailing in this land of civil and 
religious liberty, where man is suffered to worship 
God according to the dictates of his own conscience. 

1833. Although Colonel Stansbury had this year 
withdrawn from public life, yet his public spirit was 
in no manner abated, taking always a lively interest in 
the enterprises of the day, giving cheerfully the weight 
of his personal influence to promote the prosperity of 
humane institutions, and the various benevolent move- 
ments of the times. 

It was on Wednesday, the 13th of November, of this 
year, we had the extraordinary meteoric phenomena, 
known as the '^ Falling Stars." It was the good fort- 
une of the writer to witness the wonderful display, a 
description of which will doubtless prove interesting to 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUKV. 85 

the reader. About five o'clock in the morning, the 
sky being perfectly serene, and not a cloud observable, 
the heavens were illuminated by thousands of flying 
meteors, or what are commonly called shooting stars, 
descending towards the earth with a profusion and 
continuity closely resembling a shower of fire, or, if 
you will allow the comparison, ^'a golden snow.'' 
Occasionally a meteor would burst precisely after the 
manner of a sky-rocket, leaving behind it a stream of 
light. It is said, the meteors were seen to shoot soon 
after midnight, and that they continued to increase in 
number and intensity, until they faded away before the 
light of day. However that may be, at the time we 
witnessed the extraordinary phenomenon, the heavens 
presented a spectacle peculiarly grand and imposing. 
The light was so bright and brilliant that one could 
tell the hour of the morning by watch. Occasionally 
a large meteor would whirl through the atmosphere, 
and without noise burst asunder, scattering millions of 
fiery particles through the surrounding air. This phe- 
nomenon was not local, but extended over the United 
States, and was seen on the ocean. It created much 
speculation, and gave rise to much discussion among 
scientific men. Some of the credulous predicted the 
end of the world— others of more stern souls were sure 
that it, at least, prognosticated dreadful war; whilst 
the philosopher, smiling at their simplicitj^, calmly 
viewed the phenomenon, wonderful as it was. The 
newspapers were filled with articles concerning it. 
We subjoin one, as a specimen, taken from the Balii- 
more American. 
5 



86 MEMOIRS OF 

The extraordinary ineteoric phenomena which were seen in this 
city on Wednesday morning, were visible in several places at 
considerable distance, from which we have heard already. AVe 
copy below accounts from Alexandria, from Washington, New 
York and Philadelphia, in which places they exhibited vividly 
the like rare union of beauty and grandeur. It is a matter of 
curious and interesting inquiry to speculate upon the limits within 
which they appeared. 

An interesting account of a phenomenon very similar in its 
appearance, and described in terms that would apply very closely 
to that of Wednesday, is given in the travels of Humboldt, as 
having been seen on the morning of the 12th of November, 1799, 
(precisely thirty-four years ago,) at Cumana, South America, by 
M. Bonpland. It Avill be noted that those described by Hum- 
boldt, and which apparently were not more distinct nor of greater 
magnitude than those seen here, extended over a very wide space 
in South America, and were seen in Europe. We copy an abstract 
which is part of Macgillivray's condensed edition of Humboldt. 
It is worth preserving, in order to compare with it such subse- 
quent accounts as we may receive of the appearance of the late 
meteors in other places. It is as follows : 

"Towards morning of the 12th November, 1799, a very extra- 
ordinary display of luminous meteors was observed in the east by 
M. Bonpland, who had risen to enjoy the freshness of the air in 
the gallery. Thousands of fireballs and falling stars succeeded 
each other during four hours, having a direction from north to 
south, and filling a space of the sky extending from the true east 
thirty degrees on either side. They arose above the horizon at 
east-north-east and at east, described arcs of various sizes, and 
fell towards south, some attaining a height of forty degrees, and 
all exceeding twenty five or thirty degrees. No trace of clouds 
was to be seen, and a vQry slight easterly wind blew in the lower 
regions of the atmosphere. All the meteors left luminous traces 
from five to ten degrees in length, the phosphoresence of which 
lasted seven or eight seconds. The fireballs seemed to explode, 
but the largest disappeared without scintillation ; and many of the 
falling stars had a very distinct iiucleus, as large as the disk of 
Jupiter, from which sparks were emitted. The light occasioned 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 87 

by them was white, an effect which must be attributed to the 
absence of vapors ; stars of the first magnitude having within the 
tropics a much paler hue at their rising than in Europe. 

"As the inhabitants of Cumana leave their houses before four to 
attend the first morning mass, most of them were witnesses of this 
phenomenon, which gradually ceased soon after, although some 
were still perceived a quarter of an hour before sunrise. 

"The day of the 12th of November was exceedingly hot, and in 
the evening the reddish vapor reappeared in the horizon, and 
rose to the height of fourteen degrees. This was the last time it 
was seen that year. 

" The researches of M. Chladni having directed the attention of 
the scientific world to fireballs and falling stars at the period of 
Humboldt's departure from home, he did not fail to inquire 
during his journey from Caraccas to the Eio Negro, whether the 
meteors of the 12th November had been seen. He found that it 
had been observed by various individuals in places very remote 
from each other ; and on returning to Europe, was astonished to 
find that they had been seen there also." 

Since the foregoing extract was made, we find that the phe- 
nomenon described by Humboldt, was also seen in the United 
States. The account of it is as follows : 

" Mr. Andrew Ellicott, who was sent out as our Commissioner 
to fix the boundary between the Spanish possessions in North 
America and the United States, witnessed a very extraordinary 
flight of shooting stars, which filled the whole atmosphere from 
Cape Florida to the West India Islands. This grand phenome- 
non took place the 12th November, 1799, and is thus described: 
' I was called up,' says Mr. Ellicott, 'about three o'clock in the 
morning to see the shooting stars as it is called. The whole 
hea^'^ens appeared as if illuminated with sky rockets, which dis- 
appeared only by the light of the sun after day break. The 
meteors, which at any one instant of time, appeared as numerous 
a> the stars, flew in all possible directions except from the earth, 
towards which they were all inclined more or less, and some of 
them descended perpendicularly over the vessel we were in, so 
that I v/as in constant expectation of their falling on us.' " 



88 MEMOIES OF 

In August, 1835, occurred the great riot in Balti- 
more, of which Colonel Stansbury and the writer were 
witnesses, and as it has an important bearing upon the 
history and reputation of Baltimore, we herewith give 
a detailed and correct account, believing it will greaJy 
interest the general reader. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 89 



CHAPTEE X. 

Mob in Baltimore, 1835. 

To trace to its immediate origin, may seem a task 
of no difficulty, and if Ave were to assert that it 
was the failure of the Bank of Maryland, with the 
consequent stagnation of business, agitation of the 
general confidence and distrust among all classes in the 
common affairs of life, it would probably be received 
as a truism, which would require no farther evidence 
to meet with universal credence. But when we con- 
sider the lapse of time between the cause and the effect, 
we are at a loss to conjecture what could have been the 
motive or object of the delay of those dreadful and 
overt acts of depredation and disorder, which have left 
an odium upon the name and fame of our fair and 
prosperous city, that will baffle years of regret to erase 
from the blurred and blood-stained pages of history. 
True it is, that the misfortune visited indiscriminately 
the rich and the poor, the merchant and the mechanic, 
and where it was most severely fell, there is a proba- 
bility Uiat the sufferer brooded secretly over his loss, 
and hopeless, at last, of redress from " the law's delay," 
the ebullition of his feelings wrought him to the pitch 
of exasperation, which was necessary to beguile him 
from the path of moral rectitude and principled honor, 
and induce him to become a voluntary accomplice of 
the misguided party, who so fearfully avenged a com- 
mon wrong, it was the duty of every citizen to sustain 



90 MEMOIRS OF 

with fortitude^ patience and forbearance. Yet, to 
account for that unanimity of action, which gave such 
a formidable character to this lawless outrage, seems a 
riddle beyond the ingenuity of the sage to solve, at 
least up to this present writing, (1874,) thirty-nine 
years after the event. It occured to the writer that 
there had been several manifestations of excitement in 
the public mind prior to the riot, relative to a circum- 
stance, to which we should feel a delicacy in alluding, 
but for the fact that the disgraceful affair became the 
subject of newspaper comment. The mystery, which 
at that time shrouded an affair, implicating the char- 
acter of a man who had held a respectable station in 
society, with a nefarious design upon the virtue of a 
young lady, supposed to have inconsiderately thrown 
herself upon his honor for protection from the attempts 
of another — had very unfxvorably prejudiced public 
curiosity. Rumor had bruited a thousand lies and was 
still busy in the creation of her ephemeral tales, which 
are sought with avidity by the idle and unemployed, 
and diffused without the slightest regard to truth, or 
even probability, decoying the ear and arresting the 
step of the passer-by, grouping the careless at every 
corner, and eliciting opinions, vague and shapeless as 
the story told. The offender was a Mr. B*'''**'^t — the 
young lady was a Miss *=i^***** from AVashington. 
Mr. B**^*>Kg^ from the last-named place, and guardian 
of the young lady, was the party who so terribly beat 
B****'''r. The occur ranee took place in a house in 
Frederick street, west side, and next to the corner of 
Second street, now standing. The matter came up 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 91 

before the Criminal Court for judicial investigation, 
proving clearly the guilty intent of B'^*'''''^*r, who 
finally left the city for Kew Orleans, where he died. 
He was an accomplished scholar, a handsome man, 
with an unusually pleasing address. His wife and 
family resided at Franklin, (then known as AVm. H. 
Freeman's village,) Baltimore county. Such was the 
state of the public mind in Baltimore during the wdiole 
of the week preceding the riot. 

As food for this appetite "strange and unnatural,'' 
the ear was daily gorged with intelligence from various 
quarters of the total subjection of legal discipline to 
Lynch Law, while the press, lukewarm in its animad- 
versions, seemed to connive at or palliate these excesses 
from a fatal error in opinion, that, as they had a ten- 
dency to rid the country of an obnoxious portion of 
society, the end justified the means. 

It is generally supposed that a letter received and 
published by his Honor Judge Brice, (whose very 
name was a terror to evil-doers,) with his accompa- 
nying remarks, together with some hastily written 
editorials flaunted from the press, would have directed 
the popular indignation against the gaming establish- 
ments in the city, but that an artfully timed placard 
directecl the current, and turned it into that course, 
in which it spent its wild and ungovernable fury. 

On the evening of Wednesday the 5th of August, 
there was an assemblage in Monument Square of sev- 
eral hundred persons without any direct or avowed 
object, though the common topic seemed to be tlie 
affairs of the Bank of Maryland. At about eleven 



92 MEMOIRS OP 

o'clock they silently dispersed, with the single impro- 
priety of a few boys who threw stones at the house of 
Eeverdy Johnson, Esq., who was supposed to be the 
principal acting Director of that institution. In a few 
minutes all was tranquil as usual. On Thursday this 
affiiir was banded about the city with the usual ex- 
aggeration and multiplication of incident common to 
report, and the consequence was that in the evening, 
at the former place of meeting, instead of hundreds 
there was a concourse of thousands. Disaifection had 
assumed a contentious tone and aspect, and it was soon 
found necessary to summons the civil authorities to the 
spot. 

Prompt in his duty, Jesse Hunt, Esq., the Mayor, 
appeared in the elevated area on which the Court 
House then stood, and in a brief and energetic speech 
addressed the assemblage, succinctly adverting to the^ 
unfortunate though unavoidable delay of the law, in 
providing that reparation for the injuries they had sus- 
tained, and which now seemed to have become the chief 
object they had in view. It was with difficulty, how- 
ever, that he could be heard, though after repeated 
interruptions we have reason to believe he was gener- 
ally understood. He was frequently applauded while 
speaking, but his words failed in effect, and the rattling 
of the broken glass from the windows of Mr. Johnson's 
house, was a too convincing proof of the unabated spirit 
of disorder which actuated the throng. On this eve- 
ning, there seemed to be no inclination to resort to 
further acts of violence, and as the night advanced, 
there was a quiet dispersion of the multitude and the 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 93 

scene became once more still and silent as we are accus- 
tomed to find it. 

Whoever has had the least intimacy with the incon- 
siderate proceedings of an excite<:l city populace, will at 
once exclaim, that this was the period when prompt 
action and effective force would have been decisive in 
repelling the advances of the ^' mob '^ and averting the 
disastrous consequences which had ensued — and the 
writer of these lines believes that had Colonel Stans- 
bury been Mayor of Baltimore then, that by his firm- 
ness he would have upheld the majesty of the law 
and this stain on the fair fame of Baltimore thereby 
averted, notwithstanding the utter indifference mani- 
fested and confessed by a large majority of those who 
were merely spectators, as to the extent to which these 
depredations were carried, so long as they were con- 
fined to the property of Messrs. Johnson and Glenn. 

On Friday the 7th a public meeting of the citizens 
was requested, which convened at the Exchange, the 
object of which was to devise measures which would 
have a tendency to allay the excitement, or to embody 
a force sufficiently effective to coerce respect to civil 
law. Instead of which, this very meeting, so imbecile 
and impotent were the measures adopted there, actu- 
ally defeated its avowed purpose, by a most reprehen- 
sible indecision, and first gave a character to the mob, 
which now grew in temerity and brutal daring. 

At this meeting the lion. Jesse Hunt was appointed 
President, and S. C. Leakin, Wm. Krebs, C. O'Don- 
nell, Dr. Thos. E. Bond and Wm. George Kead, Esqs., 
Vice-Presidents; Wm. H. Norris, Secretary. 
5* 



94 MEMOIRS OF 

On motion of Mr. John G. Proud, the five Vice- 
Presidents were appointed a committee to report suita- 
ble resolutions for the consideration of the meeting. 
The committee, after having retired, reported the fol- 
lowing, which were adopted : 

1st. Resolved^ That this meeting regards with most profound 
regret and disapprobation the recent attempts to create disturb- 
ance in our city. 

2d. Resolved., That the spirit of violence which has been 
exhibited of late in diiferent parts of the United States, is cal- 
culated to injure our country in the esteem of other nations, to 
annihilate her weight in the social system, and to excite the most 
serious alarm in the friends of free institutions. 

3d. Resolved, That while popular excesses are, under despotic 
governments, sometimes justified, by the inveteracy of evils to 
Avhich no other corrective can be applied, they are inexcusable in 
free states, where the people, being the sources of authority and 
dispensers of power, can easily remedy any defect in their legal 
systems. 

4th. Resolved, That universal obedience to the laws is the only 
guaranty of republican liberty. 

5th. Resolved, That we should especially deplore any demon- 
stration of a contrary spirit in Baltimore, whose reviving pros- 
perity it would seriously impair, while it would degrade her from 
her high moral stand among' American cities. 

6th. Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting, it is the 
duty of every friend of good order to cooperate with the civil 
authorities, in all such measures as may be deemed necessary for 
the maintainance of the public peace and the reputation of the 
city. 

7th. Resolved, That it is recommended to the Mayor to offer 
suitable rewards for the detection of persons, who may be guilty 
of disseminating papers instigating the rash and the unthinking 
to a breach of the public peace. 

8th. Resolved, That parents, guardians and otheris are re- 
spectfully requested to restrain those under their control from 
frequenting nightly assemblages. 



COLOXEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 95 

On motion of James H. Tliomas, Esq., it was 

Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting it would promote 
the peace of the city, if the present Trustees would relinquish 
th3 trust held by them, and transfer over to the creditors of the 
Bank of Maryland the books and papers connected therewith. 

The meeting then adjourned. 

The reader will at once see the unimportance of a 
string of resolutions of the above character, to meet the 
exigency of the time. There is not a single decisive 
line; but, on the contrary, an obvious infirmity of coun- 
sel and an imperspicuity of meaning. We would espe- 
cially refer the attention to the 3d, 5th, 6th and 7th, 
which unequivocally imply an inclination to temporise 
the exercise of the authority invested in their hands. 

Lest we may be charged with a querulous disposition 
to censure, without suggesting a course to have taken 
in which there would have been more propriety — we 
must confess our inability to have advised, and merely 
add that those active measures which proved so effectual 
on the subsequent Monday should have been put into 
requisition on Friday. As it was, it amounted to little 
more than barring the stable door after the steed was 
stolen. 

The events of Friday evening became still more 
threatening of disaster. Curiosity had multiplied her 
votaries, and at an early hour the square was thronged 
to excess. During the day a quantity of stones had 
been removed from the spot by orders of the Mayor, 
and the discovery of this incident soon gave occasion 
for considerable mirth at his expense. Missiles of 



96 MEMOIRS OF 

various kinds were nevertheless found in the course 
of the evening by the determined few. 

At about eight o'clock, the attention of the multi- 
tude was directed to the occupants of the steps at the 
entrance from Fayette street to the City Hotel, from 
which several persons essayed to address them. It was 
at length understood that W. Jones, Esq., one of the 
counsel for the creditors of the Bank of Mar\dand, was 
about to speak, and the question was put, whether he 
would be heard. " Yes, yes ! '' — ^' we'll hear him " — 
*' have him out ! '' and similar exclamations of assent, 
was the response. 

Mr. Jones appeared, but scarcely uttered a sentence, 
when a most discordant noise from a horn, which con- 
tinued at intervals durins: the evenino;, excited a most 
uprorious peal of laughter. In the course of his speech, 
Mr. Jones took occasion to class the sufferers in a man- 
ner similar to the following : 

" Fathers have suffered '^ " Yes, we have,'' 

ejaculated a boisterous auditor. '^ Children have suf- 
fered " " Yes, we have ! " from the same voice. 

" Orphans have suffered '^ ^' Yes, we have," — and 

" widows have suffered " " Yes, we have ! " This 

was too much. The wldow^s voice had made a sensa- 
tion, and a deafening laugh was the sympathetic reply. 
As Mr. Jones retired, a gentleman stepped into his 
place, who was anxious to retain attention to something 
he had to communicate. He began : 

^' Friends and fellow-citizens, my name is Preston ! " 
Here he was interrupted by a confused murmur, many 
supposing him to be Preston of South Carolina, who 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 97 

might happen to be in tlic city, and thus political feel- 
ings were brought into play. He, however, continued : 

" My name is Preston — I am counsel for the creditors 
of the Bank of Maryland/^ — some interruption again 
ensued when, after a slight intermission, he resumed : 

^' My name is Preston — prest on ! '' and Mr. Pres- 
ton's fun was acknowledged by a laugh, but he had 
lost his opportunity, and was heard no more. The 
vacancy was now filled by the person of Mr. Hunt, 
the Mayor, who was accosted, the moment he spoke, 
with the question, "Are you one of the Directors of the 
Bank of Maryland?'' Mr. Hunt replied: "I fear- 
lessly confess I was a Director of that Institution ; but 
I was elected before I was acquainted with the fact that 
I had been ever nominated for that office. And subse- 
quent to my election, I remained ignorant of the con- 
cerns of that bank until the period of its close. I was 
myself deeply involved in its failure, and never drew on 
its resources but once, and then for the trifling amount 
of three hundred dollars. Gentlemen, will you listen to 
me," — at this moment a pane of glass was broken by 
a stone — '^ will you support me, fellow-citizens, in 
upholding the laws of the State?" "We will! we 
will ! " and as he descended the steps, several voices 
shouted at once : " Support the Mayor ! Support the 
Mayor ! " Mr. Hunt, with a number of friends, im- 
mediately took possession of the portico of Mr. John- 
son's house, and again exerted himself until he was 
hoarse, in vain endeavors to bear reason to the under- 
standing of the violent. But now the stones flew thick 
and fast, and the broken glass came rattling to the 



98 MEMOIRS OF 

pavement on every side. At length the portico became 
the target of the rioters, and the little party there were 
exposed to imminent danger. The door behind was 
frequently struck by missiles, which must have passed 
within a few inches of their persons, when yielding to 
the earnest solicitations of friends in the crowd, this 
spot was for a short time deserted. Mr. Hunt, now 
failing in any attempt to rally a force in the Court 
House yard, partially succeeded in forming a line in 
front of Johnson's house, striving with the assistance 
of the city watch (for at that time we had not the 
present police arrangement) to sweep the square to the 
opposite side; but the arrest of a refractory individual 
being made, and a scuffle in the rescue, which was 
accomplished, the line was broken, and the assailants 
once more approached the house. Mr. Hunt, now 
Avith a slight baton in his hand, calling upon those to 
follow, who were inclined to aid him in restoring 
peace, threw himself into the thickest of the crowd, 
and, followed by a handful of friends, made for the 
monument, the pediments and surrounding railings of 
which were clustered svith individuals, who were dis- 
persed at his approach, and a posse of watchmen with 
their Captain, A, I. W. Jackson, stationed at that place 
to preserve order there, while the Mayor, threading his 
Avay through the assemblage, gained the portico again, 
and from this moment order was gradually restored. 
An occasional seizure was made by the watchmen, but 
as a fight for the rescue invariably succeeded, these 
attempts were abandoned; during the remainder of the 
night, and long before morning, riot, with her thousand 
tongues, was heard no more. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUHY. 99 

It now became evident to all, that there was a por- 
tion of the community, but how large it was impossi- 
ble to ascertain, who were possessed with a determined 
spirit of demolition ; and on the following day, Satur- 
day, the 8th of August, preparations were made of a 
character something more substantial and resolute to 
encounter force with force. 

As early as five o'clock, P. M., the various avenues 
to the Square were intercepted in files of one or two 
deep by such of our citizens, as in the course of the 
day had volunteered their exertions for the preserva- 
tion of the public peace. These individuals were sever- 
ally armed with staffs about two feet in length and six 
inches in circumference, which had been provided for 
the purpose during the day. After the hour just men- 
tioned, all access was inhibited to the interior of their 
lines, which was partly occupied by a troop of horse, 
somewhat heavily equipped with arms. While these 
arrangements were making in this quarter, it is easy 
to conjecture what was progressing in other parts of 
the city. The toils of the week were ended, and many 
of those who that evening received the wages of in- 
dustry, as is customary at all seasons, were indulging 
in an extra glass. The all-absorbing topic was the 
anticipated tumult of the night, and almost every one 
expressed an intention of becoming a spectator, and 
doubtless, numbers of those who went, innocent of any 
design that would not have been justified by propriety, 
wrought upon by the exciting circumstances of the 
affray, and elated by an artificial ardor for the reckless 
sport, participated in the work of destruction and 
shared in the disgrace. As it grew dark, there was a 



100 MEMOIRS OF 

rapid assemblage at the intercepted stations, and the 
streets leading towards the Battle Monument, were 
thronged by the thousands whom curiosity or daring 
had attracted thither. It was very soon found that 
the most essential point of defence was at the intersec- 
tion of Calvert and Baltimore streets, the latter then 
known as Market street, the throng was so dense, that 
wdien a retreat was made from the charges of the 
horsemen, it must unquestionably have been done at 
the most imminent risk of life and limb. From a 
party of the rioters who had stationed themselves in 
Calvert street, at a short distance from the line of 
guard, an incessant volley of missiles was kept up on 
the mounted guard, which irritated the latter to re- 
peated and heedless charges upon the advanced front of 
those, who were perhaps, inoffensive spectators, but 
who had assimilated themselves with the " mob," and 
consequently become liable to suspicion. This in turn 
exasperated them to the resentment of an imaginary 
wrong and a supposed encroachment on their immuni- 
ties as American citizens ; the result was a more sensi- 
ble division of the assailants and assailed, and a distinct 
line of battle. Skirmishes now became rapid in suc- 
cession; and in the confusion the people mingled for a 
moment indiscriminately with the police, and not un- 
frequently appeared to be on the point of gaining access 
to the forbidden grounds; but though bruised and 
wounded, the guards promptly rallied and effectually 
maintained their position against the overwhelming 
flood of numbers. Similar proceedings, though less vio- 
lent in character, marked each of the stations which were 
occupied by the regular officers and volunteer policy. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 101 

CHAPTER XI. 

The House of John Glenn, Esq. 

We leave the Square for tlie present to view the 
posture of affairs in another and an unexpected quarter. 
A large portion of the rioters liad collected at about 
nine o'clock in north Charles street, in the vicinity of 
the house of John Glenn, Esq. A pause preceded the 
attack which was after some minutes commenced in 
the usual way, by demolishing the windows, at which 
a continued flight of stones was kept up, while some 
fruitless attempts were made to force the door. In less 
than half an hour, intelligence had been received at 
the head-quarters of the police, and a detachment of 
about fifteen horsemen was despatched to this new scene 
of action, urging their perplexed and half maddened 
steeds into the density of assailants and unsuspecting 
mass of idle spectators, many of whom fled in conster- 
nation, and with the utmost precipitation from the 
spot. It was about this time that the first blood was 
shed by fire-arms, and that too by mere accident. It 
seems that Dr. Samuel Baker's son Samuel, then a 
student of medicine, who was on horseback, being 
struck severely on the shoulder by a stone, was, in the 
act of snatching a pistol from his pocket, severely 
wounded in the hip by its premature explosion. The 
mob had now become convinced of the fact, which had 
been hitherto doubted, that shotted arms were arrayed 
against them, whereupon they seemed to revel more 



102 MEMOIRS OF 

reckless in ruin. As the troops passed swiftly down the 
street, stones and brickbats were showered upon them 
thick as hail ; and in self-defence, they were driven to the 
necessity of firing indiscriminately upon the populace, 
when a pistol ball struck a young man standing on the 
corner of Fayette and Charles streets, and he fell mor- 
tally wounded. He proved to be Thomas B. Murphy, 
an inoffensive and respectable citizen of Old Town. 
The ball had entered his head near the left temple and 
penetrated to the region of the brain. He died on the 
evening of Sunday, the 9th, and his remains were in- 
terred the following day. Another person, by the 
name of George Croft, was shot through the palm of 
the hand, the ball enterino; his thio-h. He was run- 
liing down Charles street, and was near Baltimore 
street, at the time he was wounded. He was conveyed 
to Fell's Point, where he was left on board a schooner, 
to which he belonged. Dying of hemorrhage on his 
way to Boston, his remains were committed to the 
deep. 

It was soon ascertained by the crowd at the house 
of Mr. Glenn, that the horsemen had returned to 
the square. The attack was renewed with redoubled 
vigor, but the precaution of the inmates had induced 
them to barricade the door and windows in such a 
way that efforts most violent were for a considerable 
time resisted. At length the iron railing in front of 
the house was forcibly torn away, and w^ith the bars 
and axes, which latter were brought by some of the 
people who had returned, the door was battered into 
atoms ; the assailants poured in, and successively 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 103 

tlic cloor of every apartment in the house was riven 
from its hinges, and the work of destruction promised 
to be complete. The superb furniture, consisting of 
every embellishment which luxury could desire, was 
thrown from the windows into the street, where it was 
eagerly seized and broken up by the infuriated crowd 
without. Beds were cut up, and the feathers scattered 
to the play of the winds; valuable pier glasses dashed 
to the ground, while the welkin rung with the loud 
cries and bitter jeers of the despoilers. In short, not 
an article escaped the devastating hand of the exaspe- 
rated mob, the house being stripped from the attic to 
its foundation. 

Such was the scene in Charles street; while the 
guards had been more successful in protecting the 
property of Mr. Johnson in the Square, although with 
considerable difficulty, and not without bloodshed. It 
was found necessary in the course of the evening to 
have general resort to fire-arms, the police being sup- 
plied with as many muskets as could be obtained, with 
orders to fire on any persons who should persist in 
invading their line after a positive command to retire. 
To this end, the drill-room of the new company of 
Washington Blues, in the building at the corner of 
North and Fayette streets, had been forced by those in 
command, and their stand of arms put into requisition. 
The muskets were loaded with large shot, and some of 
them put into the hands of individuals who were inca- 
pable of using them judiciously, which may account for 
the numbers slightly wounded. Shortly after ten 
o'clock, a severe skirmish took place near the Frank- 



104 MEMOIRS OF 

lin Bank, in which many persons on both sides were 
bruished and injured, and not a few were stung with 
an occasional shot. A young man named Watts had 
a portion of his under lip cut completely off by a 
stone; another received a shot under his ear, and the 
wound bled so profusely that it was supposed the jugu- 
lar vein was severed; he, however, recovered. A hat- 
ter named Pitts was twice wounded by charges of shot 
while assiduously engaged in laudable endeavors to 
quell the mob; he also recovered. Such mad confu- 
sion reigned from ten to twelve o'clock that it is impos- 
sible to describe scenes or circumstances at this time, 
which were utterly indescribable then. 

At midnight, order was partially restored, and de- 
tached groups were to be seen conversing in the streets 
near the square, though generally at a sufficient dis- 
tance from the line of guards. 

An opportunity was now seized to reconnoitre the 
position of affairs in Charles street, when it was found 
that a small party of belligerents kept undisputed pos- 
session of tlie house and were regaling themselves joy- 
ously, after their gratuitous exertions, with the excel- 
lent wines stored in the capacious cellar. Upon being 
informed of this, a small body of the volunteer guards 
hastened to the spot, and, securing the unlawful occu- 
pants of the building, marched off with half a score of 
prisoners to the district watch-house; but before they 
reached it, an assault was made upon them with sticks 
and stones to affect a rescue. Under this the guard 
suffered some time with all manly forbearance, until 
forbearance ceased to be a virtue, and at length a sharp 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 105 

volley of musketry, which did more serious and pain- 
ful execution than the combined contests of the whole 
evening, scattered the assailants in every direction. It 
was from this discharge that Lewis H. Wolfe (brother 
of Aicaeus B. Wolfe, Esq., attorney-at-law,) received a 
mortal wound, of which he died on the 14th. He was 
said to have been merely a spectator, and was repre- 
sented as having been a very unassuming man, highly 
respected and deeply lamented by all who knew him. 
A lad, named Francis Clee, was also shot at the same 
time and severely wounded in the thigh ; died a few 
days after. A man named Powell was shot through 
the heart, dying instantly. In short, a great many 
were wounded, proving, in several cases, mortal. In- 
deed, it never could be ascertained how many were 
killed, friends having hurried them off the ground and 
suppressing names. It was said to be as high as 
twenty-two. 

A short time after the party taken at Mr. Glenn's 
were lodged in the watch-house, (which had been the 
scene of incessant commotion during the whole of the 
night,) a general fight commenced in the crowd which 
surrounded the building, when a pistol was fired by 
one of the combatants, the ball lodging in the breast of 
a youth named Ellis. This incident put an end to 
the quarrel, the wounded having been borne away 
to the office of a neighboring surgeon. Ellis re- 
covered. 

Tranquility was, shortly after, comparatively re- 
stored, and, by the dawn of day, the rioters had dis- 
persed, when a strong escort was formed, under guard 



106 MEMOIES OF 

of which the prisoners, numbering fifty-five, were con- 
ducted to the jail. 

Never, to the writer, had the Sabbath bell usliered 
in the hallowed morn under circumstances so gloomy 
and inauspicious, and most sincerely does he hope 
never to witness here, in his own native city or else- 
where, such shameful scenes again. But strange as it 
may appear, after such incontestible evidence of that 
turbulent spirit of lawless atrocity which characterized 
the proceedings of the previous night, the wand of 
authority seemed to have paralyzed the hand that held 
it; the nerves of action might be supposed to have 
withered at once under the influence of a necromantic 
torpor, while those, from whom the unoffending and 
insecure expected protection, seemed to find a lullaby 
in the portentous murmurs of the rallying throng. 
Depredations, for which the offenders, a few hours 
before, would have been arrested or shot down, were 
committed in broad light of day, and in the presence of 
thousands, without resistance or rebuke ! 

By ten o'clock on Sunday morning, the few planks, 
which had been temporarily nailed across the entrance 
to Mr. Glenn's house, were torn down, and a rush was 
directly made for the cellar, where a scene of dissipa- 
tion ensued which beggars description. 

Having drank to satiety within, individuals were 
seen issuing from the house and hastening along the 
streets under the burthen of some half dozen bottles of 
wine, v/hile others, more inordinate, were fortunate in 
retaining the ability to carry the vacillating mass of 
soaken clay to some contiguous nook, where it might 
sleep off the fumes of wine. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 107 

The cause of this total absence of all civil authority 
is, to this time, 1874, a moot point vi'ith thousands; 
indeed, many have not the slightest clue to the mys- 
tery, which, by a consociation of incident, is simply 
explained. 

It will be remembered by many, that on Sunday 
morning, through the medium of a placard, an appeal 
was made by the Mayor to the disturbers of the peace, 
in which they were earnestly entreated to desist from 
further violence, and to the people generally to absent 
themselves from these places which had been denounced 
by the " mob," in which Mr. Hunt unfortunately re- 
marked, with a view to propitiate or appease the sedi- 
tious : '^ I have deeply deplored the disregard with 
which my earnest appeals have been met, and the resort 
to deadly weapons, which, against my judgment and 
advice, has unfortunately been taken." 

But the knowledge of this fact, if it was intended to 
pacify the people and check further proceedings, com- 
pletely defeated its object, as it had a decided tendency 
to turn the full tide of resentment upon those who left 
peaceful homes and generously risked their lives and 
property in defending the interests of others. It was 
well known, too, that many of them as it was had been 
recognized in their brief capacity and threatened with a 
visit from the mob. And consequently, when orders 
were issued on Sunday morning for a general parade of 
the volunteer corps, none of them responded, because 
several of those who held a commanding rank had been 
actively employed on the preceding night, and on the 
appearance of the placard mentioned above, had left 



108 MEMOIKS OP 

the city, as there was no alternative for personal 
safety. 

Those who remained saw no police on the alert ; the 
firemen found the military had not regarded the orders 
they had receiv^ed ; the citizens could not venture with- 
out some organization as a partial security, and the 
regular officers knew their force by far too insignificant 
to array against that opposed to them, therefore, the 
city was left to the undisputed sway of the aggressors. 
This is the only reasonable conclusion which we can 
draw for the strangest lapse of law of which we have 
ever heard. 1 

We now come to the events of Sunday night, and 
our task brings with it recollections of the most pain- 
ful character. 

Long before sunset, a large crowd had collected in 
Monument Square, before the house of Reverdy John- 
son, consisting partly of ladies who had allowed their 
curiosity to overrule their prudence; we must, how- 
ever, admit there were twenty to one of the vSterner sex 
who could not deny a similar charge. At dusk the 
attack was made without the least opposition; the 
door soon yielded to the efforts of the assailants, and 
in a few minutes the house and its effects were at their 
mercy. It was a splendid edifice and an ornament to 
the square. A fire was kindled in the street, which 
they swore to keep alive with the furniture of the 
apartQients, and they kept their oath. Something 
over the door which reflected the light more powerfully 
than surrounding objects, attracted attention before the 
work began. It proved to be the figure of an Ameri- 



COLOXEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 109 

(!AX Eagle, highly gilded, which was removed with 
the greatest possible care, carried to the Battle Monu- 
ment and placed over the door, where it remained a 
conspicuous emblem of that trait of national character 
and Americcn feeling which could preponderate at such 
a moment. This done, as it were a propitiatory rite, 
the labor of demolition was rigorously pursued, and, 
from the unremitting toil of some, we might well sup- 
pose at the instigation of a deep revenge. As a por- 
tion of the most valuable furniture had been removed 
the preceding day, there was some disappointment 
manifested, for which they were evidently inclined to 
have an equivalent, in their subsequent assiduity to 
impair the structure. An extensive library was hurled, 
book after book, into the flames, and, to expedite mat- 
ters, the largest and most valuable law books were 
opened under a neighboring pump and water brought 
into requisition, which effectually did its damaging 
work, rendering the volumes totally worthless. All 
along the sidewalks, and in the middle of the streets, 
could be seen mutilated volumes of rare finish. Ele- 
gant carpets were torn up and consigned to the flames ; 
trunks, with their contents, parchments and valuable 
papers all went to the common pile, while notes for 
thousands of dollars went spinning in the air above 
the heads of the sympathizing multitude. The Me- 
chanics' Bank building and Barnum's Hotel, as well 
as the mansion of John Hollins, adjoining Johnson's, 
were threatened with destruction from the falling 
flakes of fire sailing in the air ; but squads of the very 
men engaged in destroying offered their services, and 
6 ^ 



110 MEMOIRS OF 

aided by buckets of water in saving the property re- 
ferred to. At length a cannister was pitched from an 
upper window into the flames, and a cry of *^ gun- 
powder^^ was raised by a mischievous fellow who was 
more for fun than wit; and in confusion worse con- 
founded, flew the crowd. Bonnets were crushed, 
dresses torn and knees broken, while hats with heads 
in them were more than once trod under foot, and the 
number of mashed empty ones was legion. In a short 
time the panic subsided, and again the assemblage filled 
the Square, though several times in the course of the 
evening, some mischievous fellow successfully set his 
wits to work to get up a " rush/^ as he said a rush 
would clear the Square, being more effectual than the 
sword! No sooner was each apartment cleared of its 
furniture, than the party set to work to remove the 
window frames which were at intervals precipitated 
into the flames. Several persons now made them- 
selves very conspicuous; and one especially so, a sailor 
dressed character, who was generally called "i?ec? 
Jacket '' by the spectators, because he wore a red flan- 
nel shirt. This was Samuel M * * * a cooper from 
Franklin street. He worked without intermission, (as 
if bound by contract,) at a large arched window, which 
extended from the ceiling to the floor, and appeared 
marvellously interested in the job, and the amount of 
ruin which might be accomplished with his own hands. 
Another, a middle-aged man, (said to be a sufferer 
in the Bank failure,) who was assisting others in 
removing the copper roof from the splendid marble 
portico, frequently stopped to harangue the multitude 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. Ill 

on the subject of his supposed laudable exploits until 
he became the jest of his companions and a target for 
the clods of mortar which were hurled at him from 
above. 

Between eleven and twelve oVlock, a cry of "Fire'' 
was raised, and many persons started off in the direc- 
tion of South street, where a portion of the mob had 
forced an entrance to the dwelling of John B. Morris, 
a trustee of the Bank, and a fire had been already pre- 
pared in the street, into which the contents of the house 
were to be hurled. Johnson's now became generally 
deserted — not, however, until the front had been much 
dilapidated and the apertures for two windows in either 
apartment of the second story made into one ; the brick 
work of the others, looking towards the Square, had 
also received considerable injury, and the handsome 
portico, which cost $2,000, was totally destroyed, the 
beautiful columns hurled from their base and thun- 
dered down amidst the cheers and laughter of the 
assembled thousands, who seemed to be in sympathy 
with this modern Vandalism ! As business is busi- 
ness, the firemen were detailed, by these master spirits 
of destruction, to carefully and safely extinguish the 
flames lest the property of the honest should suffer, while 
they, and the crowd of spectators, proceeded in quick 
time to IMorris's. This scene was merely a repetition 
of the doings in the Square, except that there was a 
much larger quantity of furniture destroyed and more 
choice wines and brandies imbibed. ' It would be use- 
less and uninteresting, even if it were possible, to par- 
ticularize the various articles destroyed, but whatever 



112 MEMOIRS OF 

contributed to comfort, ease and elegance in the domes- 
tic circle, was there in rich profusion and beautiful pro- 
portion, manifesting in its owner a refined and culti- 
vated taste. 

Two trees which skirted the pavement were covered 
with snowy down that was liberated from the beds and 
pillows ripped open and thrown from above ; and ever 
and anon, as something of peculiar beauty, splendor or 
utility, came lumbering into the burning pile, a sup- 
pressed exclamation of regret involuntarily issued from 
the lips of some, who were perhaps aching with want 
— who knows but it might have been some widow, 
rendered destitute by the failure of the Bank of Mary- 
land ! There is no doubt, too, but much of the prop- 
erty found its way, little injured, into the apartments 
of others standing in greater need than the original 
possessor. Referring once more to the drinking — wine 
was found and drank in abundance, and quibbling 
toasts went round in most admired disorder. Inebria- 
tion became general, and riot found a double zest in 
every growing hour. Ruin was soon completed within 
those walls, and once more the unwearied firemen were 
left alone to perform their voluntary and unenviable 
duties. 

Shortly after, an attack was contemplated on the 
newly erected dwelling of Hugh McElderry, in Cal- 
vert street, also a Director of the Bank ; but upon the 
representation, that the property was yet in the hands 
of the contractor, and at his risk until the delivery of 
the keys, the party went off to the residence of Jesse 
Hunt, Mayor of the city, in Fayette street, where the 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 113 

furniture was thrown into the street and burnt while, 
as Mr. Hunt has since asserted, the rude jeers and 
jokes of the multitude were ringing in his ears. 

The house of Captain Bentzinger, who had been 
active on the preceding night in protecting the prop- 
erty of Mr. Johnson, underwent a similar visitation, 
while the firemen -were ever close in the rear of the 
destroyers. Captain Bentzinger not being at home, 
the ladies of the house prevailed on the mob to retire 
without inflicting damage to the property. 

The store of Captain Joseph Willey, in Franklin 
street, was next assailed, but Mr. Lynch, promptly on 
the spot, informed the populace that the property was 
his, and not Captain Willey's ; upon which they pro- 
ceeded to the house of Dr. Hintze, south Gay street, but 
his lady appearing and assuring them that the property 
was her own, having devolved to her from the paternal 
estate, that she was alone in the house and without 
help ; but from those feelings of honor which should 
ever characterize the man, they regarded her appeal, 
and departed without doing any injury. 

Dr. Hintze and Captain AVilley had also been 
actively engaged in supporting the civil authorities 
on Saturday evening. 

Between three and four o'clock on Monday morning, 
the house of Evan T. Ellicott, one of the Directors, 
Avas attacked, and the furniture burnt in the street. 
The house was not injured, as it was understood to 
belong to a widow. From one of the windows a 
trunk was thrown, out of Avhich a man leaped upon 
its descent, and was about to make off; but as his 



114 MEMOIRS OF 

design was supposed to have been theft, he was hor- 
ribly frightened with the threat of a coat of tar and 
feathers, and after some sport, he was permitted to 
depart. 

In passing the liouse of Evan Poultney, the Presi- 
dent of the Bank, he appeared at the door and assured 
the rioters that no resistance would be made if it was 
their wish to enter. No ! No ! we have nought to 
do with honest men ! cried one, to which a cheer re- 
sjionded, and the mass moved on. 

Early on Monday morning, the steps at Poultney^s 
house were washed, and some panes of glass which had 
been broken in the house adjoining that of Evan T. 
Ellicott, repaired at the expense of the mob. 

The excitement had now subsided, and the people 
were glutted with, revenge. 

A meeting of the citizens convened at the Exchange 
on Monday, at ten A. M., beneath the folds of the 
American standard. A reaction had taken place, and 
an army of thousands, with the venerable General 
Samuel Smith at their head, proceeded to Howard's 
Park, where measures w^re adopted, by which tran- 
quility was restored. 

At four P. M., the stores were generally closed, and 
a general paraJe succeeded ; after which detachments 
were inarched to various quarters of the city, which 
remained under arms during the night. This precau- 
tion was observed during the whole of the week. In 
the meantime, numbers had been arrested, tiie law once 
more prevailed, and peace and good order were secured 
to our beloved citv. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 115 

Thus terminated the memorable riot in Baltimore, 
August, 1835. The preceding brief, though faithful 
sketch, is given here as one of the remarkable events 
in the history of Baltimore, a city of which Colonel 
Stansbury was subsequently the Mayor. In this con- 
nection, the author assumes to say, as his earnest con- 
viction, that had Elijah Stansbury been the Mayor at 
that time, the calamity would have been averted. The 
failure of Mr. Hunt may be ascribed to a lack of 
moral courage alone, for as a good and useful citizen 
he had few superiors. 




116 MEMOIES OF 



CHAPTEE XII. 

TiiE Disastrous Floods of n86, 181t and 183T — 
Colonel Stansbuky^s Election to the Legisla- 
tures OP 1843, 1844. AND J845 — Elected Mayor 

1848. 

On the 16th of June, 1837, occurred the destructive 
flood, a brief account of which is here appended. 

TiiE Floop of Wednesday Night. 

From the Baltimore Daily Jovrnals. 

It is somewhat singular that the heavj' rains which fell on 
"Wednesday night to the north of this city, and were productive 
of the vast damage detailed yesterday and further noticed below, 
should have been confined mainly, we might say almost exclu- 
sively to the valley of Jones's Falls. Gentlemen who have mills 
on Gwynn's Falls, a parallel and adjacent stream, inform vis that 
although the bed of the latter was filled b}' the rains, there was 
no extraordinary flow of water, and no damage was sustained 
along its course. Again, on the other side, the neighboring 
streams of the Great Gunpowder and Herring Run indicated no 
remarkable height of water, and we have not heard that any 
injury was sustained on either of them. The rain seems to have 
concentrated itself in Jones's Falls, and the quantity which fell 
in the space of a few hours, is shown by the extent of the damage 
done to property on its borders. 

We find on inquiry that eight of the flour mills on this stream 
have ceased operations in consequence of the damage sustained, 
either by the partial or total destruction of dams, races and head 
gates, or other injury. They are severally carried on by Messrs. 
m 

Note.— The first flood was in 178G; the second flood 1817—31 years inter- 
vening. The lliird flood 1837 — 20 years intervening. The fourth flood 18G8 — 
31 } ears intervening between 1837 and 18G8, being a striking coincidence 
regarding ]apse of time between the first two and last two floods. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 117 

Davies, Bradford, White <& Sons, N. Tyson, B. Ellicott, L. J. 
Cox and E Beatty. 

It appears that the bridge of the Susquehanna Eailroad, over 
the Falls above the Kockland Print Works, was washed away 
and lodged against the bridge at Rockland, and turned the whole 
force of the stream against the latter edifice. By cutting away 
the mill race in several places, the current was diverted, 'and al- 
though the water inundated the mill, the damage was not very 
great. The dam at Rockland was partially carried away. 

In order that our readers may be enabled to form a correct idea 
of the character of Jones's Falls, from the sudden rise of which 
this city has sustained such frequent and enormous damage, we 
have obtained from a source entitled to credit the following facts. 
The stream takes its rise at what is called the Green Spring, near 
the twelfth mile stone on the Reisterstown turnpike road, and has 
a course of fourteen miles before it unites with the river Patapsco 
at Baltimore. About ten miles from the city it is joined by Row- 
land's run, the source of which is near the York turnpike road 
about eleven miles from the city. The margins of these tvro 
streams are composed of high hills which, to a given point, rise 
abruptly, and afterwards become flattened, with an inclination 
towards the two streams on either side. 

From this circumstance it happens that all the drainage of the 
triangle formed by the line of the Reisterstown turnpike, that of 
the York turnpike, and that between the two sources, which are 
about ten* miles apart, including an area of not less than fifty 
square miles, runs into Jones's Falls, and disembogues itself into 
the basin of Baltimore. The source of the stream at the Green 
Spring is 350 feet above tide, making an average fall in approach- 
ing Baltimore of thirty-two feet per mile, on which are situated 
the following water powers at the distances stated from the city. 
A glance will show the immense value of the stream, at the same 
time that its liability to flooding will also be made evident : 

City Mill in the city. 

Keller & Foreman's, now Water Go's do. 

Lanvale Cotton Factory .- do. 

Bradford's Flour Mill, ^ mile from the city. 

White's Flour Mill 1 do. do. 

6* 



I 



' 



118 MEMOIRS OF ^ 

N. Tyson's Flour Mill 1} mile from the city. 

Benj. Ellicott's Flour Mill 1^ do. do. 

Chas. Ellicott's Flour Mill If do. do. 

Woodberry (Cox's) Flour Mill 2 do. do. 

Rural (Beatty's) Flour Mill 3 do. do. 

■Washington Factory 5 do. do. 

Peden's Factory 5J do. do. 

Belluna (Gunpowder Mill) 6 do. do. 

Eockland (Mellier's Printwork) 8 do. do. 

Caton's Mill 9 do. do. 

The above distances are taken from the present limits of the 
city. On Western run, a tributary pf Jones's Falls, are the 
Pimlico and Little Pimlico Factories, with a fall of fifty feet in 
two and a half miles. 

It has been suggested to us by a highly intelligent friend, that 
application should be made to the Legislature at their next ses- 
sion for a law conferring upon the Corporation such police juris- 
diction' over the bed of the Falls and its tributaries up to their 
respective sources as will enable it to employ competent engineers, 
under whose direction dams and other structures affecting the 
stream should be erected. The amount of property in Baltimore 
affected by the destruction of dams and bridges^ is such as to give 
us a claim to the authority here referred to, the exercise of which 
can alone secure us against casualties similar to that of Wednes- 
day night last. Of course, the power sought for would be only in 
the tnanner of construction^ and would not infringe upon private 
right further than might be necessary to secure pviblic safety. 
Our fellow citizens of the county could have no valid objection, 
we should think, to an arrangement which would have a tendency 
to prevent injury to their crops on the low lands, as any thing 
that could be done to prevent damage here, would necessarily 
have the same effect higher up the stream. 

The Scene Within the City. 

It is impossible for words to convey any adequate idea of the 
scene of ruin and devastation, some of the details of which were 
hastily given in our paper yesterday. Hundreds of families 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 119 

stripped of their all, and deprived rf comforts, to replace which 
is out of their power, are thrown upon the charity of their fellow 
citizens, to whose kind feelings many of them must look for 
wherewithal to subsist. "Wednesday evening beheld them con- 
tented and surrounded by the earnings of their toil — the morning 
sun of Thursday found them destitute and penniless, and many 
who the night previous had thought themselves above the reach 
of sudden calamity, on the following day felt the certainty that 
they were homeless. It is impossible to imagine a scene more 
distressing than that presented along the Tails, from below Pratt 
up as high as Madison street. On every side were seen strewed 
the wrecks which the deluge had deposited in its desolating 
course. Here a bridge, half demolished and almost tottering to 
its fall, whilst huge piles of timber and remnants of houses 
raised themselves and appeared still to threaten destruction. 
There the entire sides of houses thrown down, and wherever 
any obstacle had prevented the onward course of the torrent, 
deep chasms excavated by the counter-current created by their 
resistance. Of this a most striking instance is furnished at the 
Centre or Marsh Market, where the fountain with its strong 
masonry and iron balustrade arrested the headlong rush of masses 
of timber, which must otherwise have swept before them in their 
way the pillars that support the roof of the market house. On 
either side of the fountain deep holes had been dug by the waters 
extending some distance under the covering, which a longer dura- 
tion'of the flood must have leveled with the ground. In passing 
along Harrison street, the spectacle was absolutely appalling, 
there being not a single building, the lower story of which had 
not been almost entirely under water, and the contents of which 
had not been, in a greater or less degree, destroyed. Along the 
Space, on each side of the market, the stock of goods in the shops 
had been wetted and soiled, and if not rendered perfectly useless, 
were so damaged as to be of almost of no value to their owners, 
many of whom must be entirely ruined. At the distillery belong- 
ing to Messrs. J. C. White & Sons, the havoc and desolation were 
very great, the apraratus being torn up and scattered in wild 
confusion. In the place where an extensive piggery, furnished 
with sheds, had stood, scarcely a vestige remained, and at a little 



120 MEMOIRS OP 

distance below were seen piles of the carcases of horses and cows 
that had perished beneath the flood. A bridge which had con- 
nected the eastern and western portion at Centre street, had been 
lifted from its abutments and served to increase the mass of ruins 
at the bridge on Gay street, a long distance down the stream. 

In the course of our walk, we entered a room where father 
and mother and three children were lying dead — they had been 
caught asleep, and must have died almost without a struggle, as 
when found they were in the attitude of rest and displayed no 
marks of suffering. As we entered the house in which they were 
lying, a poor little girl passed us weeping bitterlj'^ ; she was the 
only survivor of the family, and had escaped owing to the circum- 
stance of her having been out at service. "We trust that she will 
find friends to suppl}^ the place of father and mother, brothers 
and sisters. On a small rising ground at the corner of North and 
Centre streets, an aged couple had erected to themselves a hut 
and earned a support by selling cakes. The site of their little 
dwelling showed scarcely a A'estige of there ever having been a 
building upon it; the house and its inmates had been swept away! 

Of the extent of destruction to human life it is believed that 
even now no correct estimate can be formed, as many are missing 
w^hose fates remain unknown. Up to the last accounts the num- 
ber of bodies over which inquests had been held was nineteen. 

"We have conversed with several who were present, and beheld 
as well as the overwhelming darkness vfould permit, the scenes 
of horror. They describe it as surpassing any thing of vehich 
they could have formed any conception. With the roar of the 
waters as they bore every thing before them and threatened uni- 
versal destruction, were mingled the cries of the drowning vic- 
tims, that shrieked for aid where no help could be afforded. 

We never joined with more heartfelt good will in an appeal to 
our fellow citizens in behalf of charity than at present. Now it 
is that benevolence may be exercised to the utmost, not in favor 
of idleness or sloth but of suffering worth and industry. Hun- 
dreds of our citizens have been deprived of their all, and are 
thrown upon the good will of their fellow beings not for in- 
dulgences but for the means of subsistence. Those who may 
have any doubts, if doubt be possible at such a time, have only to 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 121 

visit the devastated district, and there they will find mute advo- 
cates of the wretched sufterers that speak in terms stronger than 
any we can adduce. Through the eye they address themselves to 
the heart, and cold indeed must he the sensibilities which cannot 
be aroused by their appeal. The young and the aged, the strong 
and the decrepit, may be seen submitting without a murmur to a 
dispensation of Providence by which they have been bereaved of 
their property, and bending in humble gratefulness to the power 
by which their lives have been preserved. There should be one 
universal movement on the part of those whose property has 
remained unscathed — they should unite heart and hand, and from 
their comparative abundance give to the needy and the destitute. 
Let every one, however small his means, contribute his mite. 



Lives Lost by the Preshet. 

"We are indebted to J. I. Gross, Esq. Coroner, for a list of in- 
quests held by him over the bodies of persons drowned in the 
freshet of Wednesday night : — 

Christopher Wiest, wife an three children, Saratoga street. 

Doughert}', corner of Concord and "Water streets. 

Catharine Donnelly, Pratt street. 

James Doyle, Long wharf. 

Jacob Ockley, Falls road. 

A woman and daughter, name unknown. 

The following persons have been drowned, but the bodies are 
yet unrecovered : 

James Kelly, Henry Linehan, Mr. Donnelly, and five persons 
on the Falls road, names unknown. 

LEGISLATIVE ELECTION. 

After an intermission of eleven years, during which 
period Colonel Stansbury applied himself most sedu- 
lously to his business, but by no means relaxing his 
interest in military, masonic and other associations, as 
well as in public enterprises — he was called upon by 



122 MEMOIRS OF 

his fellow citizens to serve them once more. Yielding 
to the summons, he was nominated for the Legislature 
and elected October 4th, 1843, by the following vote, 
he being the only successful Democratic nominee on 
the city ticket. We give the vote in full. 

Democrats. Whigs. 

Stansbury 6,484 Liirman 6,399 

Cox 6,410 Watson 6,554 

Kamsay 6,444 Curley 6,564 

Bender 6,383 Levering 6,557 

Friese 6,396 Carey 6,529 

In 1844, Colonel Stansbury was again the nominee 
of the Democratic party, with Messrs. Springer, Gal- 
lagher, Williams and Graves, all the former nominees 
on the Democratic ticket of 1843 having been dropped 
except the Colonel ; while the Whigs nominated all 
their successful candidates on their ticket of 1843. All 
this only goes to show the great personal popularity 
of Colonel Stansbury. It will be seen, he leads his 
ticket. 

Stansbury 9,134 Curley 8,096 

Springer 9,110 Watson 8,040 

Gallagher 9,063 Carej- 8,073 

Williams 9,116 Jenkins 8,026 

Graves 9,123 Keese 8,057 

In 1845, the Colonel was again nominated, and all 
his colleagues on the city ticket of 1844 were dropped, 
thus giving stronger evidence of his growing popu- 
larity ; and it will be again noticed that he still leads 



COLONS EL ELIJAH STANSBUHY. 123 

his ticket, notwithstanding the names of Joshua Yan- 
sant and Robert McLane, who were two of the most 
popular gentlemen in Baltimore. 

Stansbury 7,704 Keiiley ...3,898 

Cox ■ 7,627 Harris 3,774 

McLane 7,G22 Purviance 3,761 

Vansant 7,655 Reese 3,837 

Baughnian 7,695 Wood 3,788 

Colonel Stansbury's majority over the highest Whig candidate 
being 3806 ! Majority over the lowest, (Purviance,) 3943. 

In the spring of 1846, he again retired from public 
life, carrying with him the most kindly feelings of his 
fellow citizens, irrespective of party. While in the 
Legislature, Colonel Stansbury proved himself to be 
a useful and efficient member, always holding himself 
in readiness to cheerfully advise with and aid those 
younger in years and experience by the Avholesome 
fruits of his more mature judgment. But scarcely had 
two more years elapsed, before his valuable public ser- 
vices were once more required by his fellow citizens. 
In this campaign the Democrats knew that they had a 
formidable adversary to contend with in consequence 
of the remarkable fluctuations in the two parties from 
the agitation of the Native American Question. The 
election for Mayor was approaching, and both parties 
were actively marshalling their hosts for the coming 
contest. The Democrats felt at once the great necessity 
of bringing into the field their strongest and best man. 
So likewise with the Whigs. The Democratic Conven- 
tion met, and with great unanimity nominated Elijah 



124 MEMOIRS OF 

Staiisbiiry, Jr., as their standard bearer. The election 

came of on the IJth of October, 1848, resulting as 
follows: 

MUNICIPAL ELECTION. 

From the Baltimore American, October 12th. 
The election yesterday for a Maj-or and members of the City 
Council of Baltimore passed off quietly, and with a degree of 
good order at the polls highly creditable to all parties. The 

result is as follows : 

For Mayor. 

Wh ig. Dem. 

Wards. , Griffin. Stansbury. 

1st 429 673 

2d 314 602 

3d 569 592 

4th 626 468 

5th 325 369 

6th 475 597 

7th 364 546 

8th 326 644 

9th 391 503 

10th 516 276 

11th 480 427 

12Lh 637 540 

13th 471 287 

14th 583 347 

15th 662 608 

16th 373 847 

17th 274 494 

18th 582 805 

19th 403 498 

20th 264 427 

9,064 9,950 
Colonel Stansbury being elected by a handsome majority of 886. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUEY. 125 

City Council. — Elect. 

Ist ward — Edward Horney. 

2d ward — John E. Stansbury. 

3d ward— Richard C. Wells. 

4th ward— William H. Steiiart.* 

5th ward — Charles B. Green, 

6th ward — Evan M. Foreman. 

7th ward — Benjamin German. 

8th ward — Thos. J. Spilman. 

9th ward — Charles Soran. 
10th ward — Charles Earquharson.* 
11th ward — J. I. Cohen, Jr. 
12th ward— G. Clinton Frailey.- 
13th ward — Frederick Pinkney.^ 
R 14th ward — George A. Davis. ^ 
15th ward — Moses G. Hindes.* 
16th ward — John Disney, Sr. 
17th ward — Charles A. Leloup. 
18th ward- J. J. Grindall. 
19th w^ard— J. S. Shipley. 
20th w^ard— N. T. Dushane. 
The First Branch will consist of six Whigs and fourteen Demo- 
crats. Last year it stood five Whigs to fifteen Democrats. 

Second Branch. 
1st and 2d wards — John T. Farlow. 
3d and 4th wards— Fred. Littig Shaffer.* 
5th and 6th wards — Jos. J. Stewart. 
7th and 8th wards — John W. Wilson. 
9th and 10th wards— A. E. Warner, Sr.* 
11th and 12th Avards— David Taylor.* 
13th and 14th wards— John R. Kelso.* 
15th and 16th wards — John Dukehart. 
17th and 18th wards— Elias Ware, Jr. 
19th and 20th wards— Wm. A. Hack. 
The Second Branch will consist of four Whigs and six Demo- 
crats. Last year it stood five to five. 

*Those marked thus * are Whigs. 



126 MEMOIRS OF 

City Council. 

F'irst Branch. 

FIRST AYARD. 

Whigs. Dem. 

Robert A. McAilister 431 Edward Horney 561 

SECOND WARD. 

Lewis Audoun 310 John E. Stansbury 599; 

THIRD WARD. 

David Evans 568 Kicbard C. "Wells 585 

rOUUTU WARD. 

Wm. H. Steuart G24 Wm. H. Hiss 449 

FIFTH WARD. 

Wm. Bayley 326 Charles B. Green 354 

SIXTH AVARD. 

Chas. Gr. Ridgely 492 Evan M. Foreman 556 

SEVENTH WARD. 

James McNabb 364 Benjamin German 534 

EIGHTH WARD. 

Adam Denmead 290 Thomes J. Spilman 602 

NINTH WARD. 

Charles McComas 374 Charles Soran 500 

TENTH WARD. 

Charles Earquharson 518 J. W. Bloomer 257 

ELEVENTH WARD, 

T. Hanson Belt 433 J. I. Cohen, Jr 468 

TWELFTH WARD. 

Geo. C. Frailey 588 L. G. Quinlan 587 

THIRTEENTH WARD. 

Frederick Pinckney 461 Joseph G. Johnson 284 

FOURTEENTH WARD. 

George A. Davis 566 Francis Dawes, Sr 356 

Note.— We append this list to remind tlie rea icr of many worthy citizens 
numbered in it, wl o now rest in the silent tomb. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 127 

FIFTEENTH WARD. 

Moses G. Hindcs 647 Levi Taylor 605 

SIXTEENTH WARD. 

Philip A. Kigby 310 John Disney, Sr 409 

SEVENTEENTH AVARD. 

Wm. Addison, (Ind.,) 286 Chas. A. Leloup 468 

EIGHTEENTH WARD. 

Matthew Clark, (Ind.,) 616 J. J. Grindall 731 

NINETEENTH WARD. 

Joshua Dryden 398 J. S. Shipley 492 

TWENTIETH WARD. 

Thomas Symington 387 Nat. T. Dushane. 387 



Second Branch. 



FIRST AND SECOND WARDS. 
Whigs. Dcm. 

John Wells, 1st ward 397 J. T. Farlow, 1st ward... 002 

2d 324 2d ... 589 

721 1,191 

K 

THIRD AND FOURTH WARDS. 

I F. Littig Shaffer, 3d 544 Samuel Boyd, Sr., 3d 602 

4th 626 4th.... 459 

1,170 1,061 

FIFTH AND SIXTH WARDS. 

Dr. J. L Yeates, 5th 337 Joseph J. Stewart, 5th... 353 

6th 467 6th... 595 

804 948 



SEVENTH AND EIGHTH WARDS. 

Sterl. Thomas, 7th 358 John W.Wilson 7th 541 

8th 321 8th 638 

679 1,179 



128 MEMOIRS OF 

NINTH AND TENTH WARDS. 

A. E. Warner, Sr., 9th.. 388 John H. Ing, 9th 486 1 

10th.. 508 10th 2711 

896 757 ; 

ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH WARDS. 

David Taylor, 11th 446 John McColgan, 11th 441 

12th 645 12th 522 

1,091 963 

THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH WARDS. 

John R. Kelso, 13th 465 Dr. J. Essender, 13th 281 

14th 564 14th 352 

1,029 633 

FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH WARDS. 

John L. Kcese, 15th 638 John Dukehart, 15th 607 

16th 322 16th 384 

960 991 

SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH AVARDS. 

James Murray, 17th 272 Elias Ware, Jr., 17th 485 

18th 581 18th 788 

853 1,273 

NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH WARDS. 

James Keyser, 19th 316 Wm. A. Hack, 19th 500 

20th 304 20th , 439 

620 939 



The majority obtained for Colonel Stansbury was 
greater than had been expected by his most sanguine 
friends. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 129 



CHAPTER XIII. 

\ Colonel Stansbury's Installation into Office — His 
First Message, &c. 

After he was installed into office, his friends in- 
dulged in many conjectures as to who would be nomi- 
nated for the various offices within his gift as Chief 
Magistrate of the city. He kept his own counsels, and 
no human power could make him swerve from what 
he considered and conscientiously believed to be his 
line of duty. Perfectly independent in spirit, he con- 
sulted no one concerning his preferences. In this 
respect Elijah Stansbury resembled Andrew Jackson. 
Firm to his purpose he would make no disclosures 
as to his intention whatever devices may have been 
resor.ted to in order to gratify curiosity, and it was 
not known to any one but himself, who were to be 
recommended till the list was actually submitted to 
the Councils for confirmation. 

MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL. 

Yesterday being the day appointed by the city charter for 
the meeting of tlie City Council, the members assembled at 3 P. 
M. in their respective chambers. 

Proceedings of the Fibst Branch. 

Mr. Geo. A. Davis was called to the chair for the purpose of 
organization, when the following, members answered to their 
names and being duly qualified took seats ; viz : 

EdAvard Horney, John E. Stansbury, Richard C. "Wells, Wm. 
H. Steuart, Chas B. Green, Evan M. Foreman, Benj. German, 
Thos. J. Spillman, Charles Soran, Chas. Farquaharson, J. I. 



130 MEMOIKS OF 

Cohen, Jr., D. H. Quinlan, Fred. Pinkney, Geo. A. Davis, Mose« 
Hindes, John Disney, Sen., C. A. Leloup, J. J. Grindall, J. S. 
Shipley, and Nathan T. Dushane. 

The Branch then proceeded to the election of a President, when^ 
Mr. Dushane nominated Jacob I. Cohex, Jr.," and moved that 
the balllot be dispensed with. The motion prevailed and Mr.- 
Cohen was unanimously elected President of the Branch. 

On taking his seat, Mr. Cohen returned his acknowledgments 
to the Branch, assuring them of the high appreciation in which 
he held this evidence of their confidence in him, and pledging 
himself to discharge the duties they had imposed upon him im- 
partially and to the best of his abilit}'. 

The compensation of the reading and of the recording clerks 
was then fixed at $5 per day, and that of the door-keeper at $1.50. 

The Branch then proceeded to the election of its officers, when 
Wm. A. Stewart was elected Recording Clerk ; Joseph Barling, 
Reading Clerk ; and John Lingenfelter, Door-keeper. 

After the usual formality of informing the Mayor of the organi- 
zation of the two Branches, the following communication was 
received from the Mayor, by the hands of his private Secrecary, 
V. H. Kalkman, Esq., and read: 



Mayor's Commuxication^. 



Mayor's Office, 



} 



Baltimore, January' 15th, 1849. 

To the Members of the First and 

Second Branches of the City Council: 

Gentlemen : You have assembled together, at the call of your 
fellow-ciiizens, for the purpose of framing such laws as may be 
necessary to their common welfare ; and in thus assembling, it 
cannot be inappropriate to mingle our congratulations, thankful- 
ness and gratitude, for the health, prosperity and manifold bless- 
ings which have been granted to the people of this city by a 
beneficent Providence. 

In one respect my duty anticipates yours ; and in laying before 
you the corporate aflfairs of the city, I practice no deception upon 
you, nor upon mj'self, when I assure you that I feel no less 
embarrassment from the brief period I have been in office, than 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 131 

from an unaffected distrustfulness in my own capacity to dis- 
charge the task. I shall, however, present to you such infor- 
mation as I possess, and make such suggestions as 1 may deem 
necessary, in a plain, straight-forward way. 

It is most gratifying to find, as will be seen by the accompany- 
ing report of the City Collector, that the promptitude which has 
heretofore distinguished our citizens in the payment of their 
taxes, has even been exceeded the present year. The entire 
amount collected and paid to the Kegister, embracing the arrear- 
ages of 1844, 1845, 1846 and 1847, and including the discounts 
made for prompt payment, is $620,201.71, being the largest 
amount ever collected in one year. This affords the best testi- 
mony of the industry and energy with which this important 
department has been conducted. 

The report of the City Commissioners, herev/itli submitted, so 
fully details the operations of the Board, that a reference to the 
report itself would give more information than any commentaries 
of mine. The various ordinances and resolutions of the Council, 
under which they were required to act, are specified, and satisfac- 
torily carried into effect. 

The bridge at Fayette street, pursuant to a resolution passed at 
the extra session of the Council, has been completed, and the 
experiment presents every promise of entire success. The erec- 
tion of this bridge, whilst it opens an important thoroughfare to 
our citizens, reflects great credit alike upon the contractors, 
Messrs. Murray & Hazlehurst, and the skill and workmanship of 
our practical mechanics. 

The Board of City Commissioners have at times found it neces- 
sary to exceed the appropriations of the Council. I trust that 
ample provision will be made for the future, so as to prevent such 
expenditure ; for at this time, I can conceive no exigency except 
the absolute protection of the lives and property of our citizens, 
the property of the city, or the necessary administration of the 
public business, when unauthorized expenditure of the public 
money could be sanctioned by me. If the power ex^ts, I deem 
it one liable to abuse ; and it should be checked. 

The duties of the Board of Commissioners are arduous and 
responsible, involving the deepest interest to the public, and I 






132 MEMOIRS OF 

would therefore earnesth^ recommend that their saUiries be itt 
creased, so as to secure and require their whole time and atten- 
tion. 

It is important that some provision should be made for a place 
of deposit for the sediment removed from the harbor by the mud 
machines; it is greatly needed, and should have prompt atten-c 
tion. 

The report of the Visitors of the Jail of Balimore city anc^ 
county, refers to their opinions and suggestions heretofore ex** 
pressed, in reference to the reconstruction of the buildings of thisi 
institution. Their plans at large and most ably advanced, can 
be found in former communications, and I believe them of suffi-i 
cient importance to ask your reference to them. Their adoption 
was strongly urged by my predecessor in his last annual message, 
and after a careful examination of his views, I heartily concur in 
their force and propriety. This institution, with all its disadvan- 
tages, has been conducted with an order, system and ability, 
which reflects the highest credit upon all connected with the ad- 
ministration of its government. 

The Board of Health give in their report an interesting and 
satisfactory detail of their actions the past year. Upon examina- 
tion, you will rejoice to find that our city has maintained its 
preeminence as one of the most healthy in the world. 

The beneficial results anticipated from the erection of the Small 
Pox Hospital have been fully realized, and in the event, at any 
future period, of this disease appearing in an aggravated or epi- 
demic form, it would be difiieult to calculate its value. It has 
been well managed, and so free has the city been from this pesti- 
lence, that there have been but few cases during the present 
season. For general detail, I refer joii to the report of the resi- 
dent physician on that subject, submitted by the Board of Health. 

I personally examinsd the land attached to the Small Pox Hos- 
pital, and am induced to believe that it is very susceptible of 
improvement, and think the outlay of from twelve to fifteen 
hundred dollars judiciously expended in the improvement of the 
soil, would in a short time produce a revenue suflicient to reduce 
very considerably the expense of the institution. I do not think 
it necessary, at this time, to present my views in detail, but 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 133 

believe the suggestions deserving of consideration. Some modi- 
fication may be necessary in the ordinance for the government of 
the institution. 

The various matters submitted to your consideration in the 
report of the City Eegister require no comment. It may be 
relied ujjon with confidence, and speaks the acknowledged ability 
with which this important department has been conducted by the 
present able incumbent. 

By reference to the report of the Appeal Tax Court, herewith 
presented, it will be seen that the assessed value of the property 
in the city, liable to taxation for citj^ purposes, for the year 1849, 
is $78,831,965, shov/ing an increase of the corrected assessment 
for 1848, of the sum of $2,332,354. Assuming the abatements on 
the assessment to be equal to the sum of $1,331,965, the basis of 
assessment for the year 1849 will be $77,500,000. 

The report of the Commissioners of Public Schools, which I 
herewith submit, is one full of interest. Our school sj'^stem has 
so entirely won the approbation of the public that it scarcely 
needs comment. Its early advocates have lived to witness the 
realization of more tfiian their most sanguine expectations. In 
my opinion, its extension and perfection should be kept steadily 
in view. Education diffused as far as practicable among all, is 
our surest guarantee that the virtue of the people will continue to 
increase; and upon that virtue and intelligence mainly rest the 
preservation and perpetuity of our political institutions. The 
gentlemen who compose the Board appear, by their devotion to 
its welfare, to have justly appreciated not only the magnitude of 
their charge, but the deep interest with which the public mind 
watches its developments. 

The annual report of the Trustees of the Alms House exhibits 
the condition of that institution. From a decrease from one of 
the principal sources of revenue applicable to the support of the 
poor, (commutation on foreign passengers,) the sum of $16,777.40 
' will be required for the Alms House for 1849, in addition to an 
unpaid balance of $2,325.40 appropriated for 1848. 

The report exhibits the gratifying intelligence that the inmates 
classed as resident paupers have been gradually diminishing in 
numbers for several years. There arc, at this time, fewer inmates 

7 



134 MEMOIRS OF 

of the character indicated, then there were seventeen years since, 
when the population of Baltimore was but little more than half 
that of the present period. This fact speaks volumes for the 
prosperity, as well as for the morals of our citizens. The condi- 
tion of the institution in general evidences faithful management. 

The annual report of the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad Com- 
pany is herewith submitted. The report from the Baltimore and 
Susquehanna Eailroad Company has not been received in time for 
this communication. In the several companies of internal im- 
provements, the city has a deep interest, not only in a pecuniary 
point of view, but in the result which must flow from their com- 
pletion. Each large commercial point is struggling to direct the 
increasing and already immense trade of the west, to their own 
particular advantage ; our favorable position, therefore, at an early 
day induced the proper authorities to grant a most generous aid 
to all these works. No city in the union has manifested a larger 
share of liberality ; and while the people were paying a heavy 
rate of tax, thus incurred, and the city her interest in cash, upon 
bonds issued for these companies, she w^as the first to receive her 
dividends in bonus, and in that way, not less than by her example, 
gave additional and invaluable aid to the Baltimore and Ohio 
Kailroad Company. The city having done so mnch, it may well 
be hoped that the enterprise of our citizens in their individual 
capacity, will rival those of a sister citj', and meet nature half 
way by a speedy union of the Chesapeake and Ohio river ; an 
alliance so natural that it would seem to defy competition. 

The authenticated accounts which we daily receive of the prog- 
ress of the Asiatic Cholera, and its sudden and uncertain appear- 
ance, should admonish us to prepare for its approach. I would, 
therefore, earnestly call your attention to the subject, as one of 
vital importance. The existing healthy condition of our city 
may not, and I hope will not, be disturbed by this dreaded pesti- 
lence ; but it might overtake us as it has others, with fearful 
surprise, while a timely prudence may disarm it of much of its 
fatal power. 

Opposed as I am to all unnecessary expenditures, and favorable 
to the most rigid retrenchment, compatible with the public good, 
yet in a rapidly growing city like ours, matters involving expense 



COLONEL ELIJAH STAXSBURY. 135 

will present themselves, and which a just protection to the com- 
munity seems to make imperative. Of these, the tunnelling of 
Harford and Schrocder's runs, and the erection of a House of 
Refuge, I think of great public necessit}-. I incline to the 
opinion that the city might ultimately find all these measures as 
economical as I conceive them to be requisite. In reference to 
Harford run, an opinion prevails that the cit\" is liable in law for 
the consequence of any accident which might occur in its present 
condition, which is one full of danger. Accidents of a serious 
nature have occurred, and this equally involves a very high con- 
sideration of the protection which the public pay for, and have a 
right to demand. Independent of this, the improvement of this 
run would greatly increase the value of the city property, and by 
removing the railroad upon the middle of the tunnel, it would 
niake not only a great public thoroughfare, but a very handsome 
street. I would recommend this improvement as a progressive 
one, tind an investigation, I think, would show the cost to be 
much less than generally supposed. Schroeder's run is perhaps 
not so dangerous, but a much greater nuisance, and by all means 
should be tunnelled. Its present condition greatly impairs the 
value of property, and prevents improvement. I earnestlj^ invite 
the attention of the Council to it. In reference to a House of 
Refuge, I doubt whether a single citizen can be found who will 
not cheerfully admit its great and increasing necessity. I believe 
most, if not all, of our sister cities have been driven to it by 
necessity, or, influenced by more disinterested motives, have pre- 
pared an asjdum for the friendless, or those who have no protec- 
tion against the temptations of early vice. The City Jail in its 
present condition, is but a- school to the uninitiated in more 
matured crime ; and while it and the Alms House are both neces- 
sary, yet I doubt not, but that a well regulated system of eaiJy 
training would lessen the expenses of both. 

AVhat the want of such an institution co?ts the community, no 
one can tell. If the various fires, which occur from no account- 
able cause, could be traced to their true source, and which large 
rewards have failed to penetrate, then, indeed, mfght we properly 
appreciate its value. To erect an institution, such as other cities 
have at this time perfected, would present a startling cost. Such 



136 MEMOIRS OF 

is not my view, which onl}- contemplates a commencement ade- 
quate to our means, and upon such principles of industry as 
would go for to defray the expenses. Experience would then 
show its importance, and the public mind as in our school system, 
would justify increased expenditures, 

Tor many years past, the peace of the city has been dis- 
turbed. Ordinances have been passed, and the Council anxiously 
concerned, to devise some means to stay the violence and outrage 
attendant upon actual fires, and false alarms, too often got up for 
such purpose. The police of the city have, with great fidelity, 
discharged their duty, yet the evil, instead of abating, seems to 
increase. Life itself has paid the penalty of these riots, an inno- 
cent victim has been slain at mid-day in the public streets, fire 
arms freely used, and the peace of various parts of the city en- 
tirely destroyed by scenes of the most disgraceful kind ; the only 
wonder is, that more extensive injury has not been done. All 
experience shows, that these outbreaks have their origin outside 
of the tire companies proper. No class of the community more 
deplores these excesses than the generous and patriotic men, who 
freely risk their lives and impair their health to protect the 
property of their fellow citizens. To no class is a general debt 
of gratitude more eminently due ; but there are various and dan- 
gerous combinations throughout the city of idle and evil disposed 
boys and persons, who stimulated by sectional hatred, watch 
every alarm of fire, and seize the opportunity of rallying under 
difi'erent names for a general fight. The arrests that are made, 
and the convictions and punishment of those so arrested, prove 
this to be true. 

It has struck me forcibly that some appropriate mark of public 
approbration, medals or otherwise, and classified as first, second, 
and third, presented to those three companies most distinguished 
for their good conduct and order, and for the preservation of 
both, would have a most beneficial eflfect — these awards to be 
based upon monthly or quarterly reports to this office, b}^ the 
president and directors of each company, and to be submitted to 
an annual investigating committee appointed by the Council. 
Those" who have no connection with fire companies, other than 
by mere preference and location, might thus be made sensible of 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 137 

the discredit which their misconduct brought upon their favorite 
company, — or on the other hand, how much honor they had in 
their power to confer upon it. The lawless, who are often reck- 
less to penalties and consequences, may be stimulated to generous 
emulation; and with certain punishment upon one side, and the 
high reward of public distinction upon the other, both means 
would be applied which are known to influence human conduct, 
as well the bad as the good. It is scarcely necessary to add that 
all the power and authority invested in me by the ordinances, 
shall be vigorously enforced to prevent these disgraceful out- 
breaks of violence ; for the peace of the city must and shall be 
preserved, and that, too, without fear, favor or affection. 

The wharf on the south side of the city dock has entirely fallen 
in, and the earth is rapidly filling it up. The interest of the city 
would be much promoted by the immediate re-construction of the 
wharf. In its present condition, every day adds to future labor 
and expense. If the wharf were re-built it would yield a good 
revenue to the city, as well as aff'ord a convenient deposit for the 
sediment removed from the dock, which is an important con- 
sideration. 

I would recommend a revision of the ordinances and supple- 
mentary acts, fn relation to the opening and paving of streets. 
They are complicated, and, in passing ordinances upon these sub- 
jects, are liable to lead the city into obligations, which at the time 
are not anticipated, and for which no appropriations are of course 
made. If I am not in error, my judgment is that an investiga- 
tion will show that such revision demands the consideration of 
the Council. 

I think it advisable that the Port Warden's line, at the south 
side of the basin, should be properly designated by driving piles, 
or in such other way that it may be easily known. 

I invite your attention to the expediency of making some 
improvements, much needed, at the Hanover market. At pres- 
ent, the west end of the market house is used as a fish market. 
From an examination of the premises I am leatl to believe that 
there is ample room in the square formed by the market house to 
erect a fish market house, which would afiford considerably more 
room for the butchers, which seems to be much required. The 



138 MEMOIRS OF 

eaves of the roof of the north side and west end of the market 
house do not extend over the foot pavement to the curb stones, 
which ought to be done, and, when done, it would afford a row of 
benches the length and width of the market, that would yield a 
considerable revenue to the city. The Centre market requires 
new roofing or much repairing. I respectfully invite your atten- 
tion to them. 

I have a communication in reference to the building of an Ice 
Boat, for the purpose of keeping the harbor open during the 
winter. I invite your attention to it — I do not doubt its great 
importance. A proposition has been submitted, exhibiting the 
economy with which it might be effected ; but as I do not feel 
myself qualified to express a decided opinion on the plan pro- 
posed, I herewith transmit the communication on the subject for 
your consideration. 

I have received and herewith present a communication from 
John "VYilson, Esq., a highly respectable citizen, in relation to 
the condition of Jones' Falls, to which I ask j^our attention. 

Within the past year, one thousand nine hundred and twenty 
new buildings have been erected in the city. 

During the administration of my predecessor, whose zeal I shall 
endeavor to emulate, whose ability I cannot — an appropriation of 
$30,000 was made by Congress for the erection of a fortification 
upon SoUers' point flats. I am happy to understand that an addi- 
tional appropriation of $4:0,000 is contemplated the present year, 
and the Government having become sensible of its necessity, will, 
it is hoped, prosecute the work in a manner commensurate with 
its great importance to the defence of the city and country. 

Alexandre Yattemare, a citizen of France, well and favorably 
known by reputation to the people of this country, has presented, 
upon his principles of national interchange, in the name of the 
city of Paris, a variety of valuable books to the corporation of 
Baltimore, which are in my office. The Council may deem some 
action, upon a subject so honorable and praiseworthy, as respect- 
ful and proper. 

The following statement, for which I am indebted to General 
"William H. Marriott, Collector of the Port of Baltimore, exhibits 
the foreign commerce of our city during the year 1848 : 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUllY. 139 

Stateynoit of the Foreign Commerce of the Port of Balt'unore, 
for the. year IS48. 

Merchandise imported in Araericnn vessels $4,988,175 

'' " Foreign '' 574,742 

Total imports $5,562,917 

Exports of Domestic produce in American vessels $5,435,450 

" " " Foreign " 1,079,242 

Exports of Foreign merchandise in American " 83,311 

" " " Foreign '' 24,330 

Total exports $6,622,363 

No. Ves. Tons. Men. 
Entries of American vessels from Foreign 

ports 346 74,801 3,226 

Eutries of Foreign vessels from Foreign 

ports 114 22,99G 1,102 

Total entries 460 97,797 4,328 

Clearances of American vessels to Foreign 

ports 412 90,544 3,868 

Clearances of Foreign vessels to Foreign 

ports 124 28,058 1,302 

Total clearances 536 118,602 5,170 

I desire to call your attention to the propriety of re-construct- 
ing the old draAvbridge, at the lower end of the citj^ property on 
the west side of Jones Falls, to Block street, on Fell's Point. It 
would be a great accommodation as a thoroughfare in that part of 
the city, and I think it is worthy of your consideration. 

All of which is respectfully submitted, 

ELIJAH STAIS^SBUKY, Mayor. 

The communication of the Mayor, with the documents accom- 
panying it, was referred to the usual committee for distribution. 



140 MEMOIES OF 

Second Branch. 

The Branch met at the appointed hour and was temporarily 
organized hy calling David Taylor, Esq., to the chair. 

The following members were then sworn in and took their 
seats, viz : 

John T. Farlow, Fred. L. Shafi'er, Joseph J. Stewart, John W. 
Willson, A. E. Warner, Sr., David Taylor, J. R. Kelso, John 
Dukehart, Elias Ware, Jr., Wm. A. Hack. 

On motion of Mr. Ware, Wm. A. Hack, Esq., was unani- 
mously elected President of the Branch. 

The per diem of the Clerk of the Branch was fixed at $5, and 
that of the Door-keeper at $2. 

Mr. John A. Thompson was then elected Clerk, and Mr. E. E. 
Sinners, Door-keeper. 

The annual communication of the Mayor was received at the 
hands of his Secretary, V. H. Kalkman, Esq., and ordered to be 
read. 

The communication of the Mayor, with the accompanying 
documents, was referred to joint special committee for distribu- 
tion, to the appropriate committees. Adjourned. 

We feel it our duty here to say, that we have seldom 
seen a document of the kind, the tone of which has 
pleased us more than the above Message of his Honor, 
Mayor Stansbury. It combines detail with concise- 
ness, and sets forth the condition of the concerns of the 
body politic with lucidness and force. In the first 
place he finds causes of thankfulness and gratitude to 
a Beneficent Providence, and then in a plain straight- 
forward way makes known the prosperous condition of 
the municipal affairs of the community and proceeds at 
once to make such suggestions as the necessity of the 
times requires. Indeed the writer does know that the 
Baltimore Ameriean, the leading Whig Journal at that 
time, spoke of the Message in the highest terms of 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 141 

praise, and in a like strain of the Register's statement, 
which we also subjoin. 

Register's Statement. 

The following statement of the financial concerns of the city of 
Baltimore for the past j^ear, was submitted to the City Council 
3'esterday afternoon : 

Registers Statement of the condition of the City Treasury on the 
31st day of December, IS4S, — and of the estimated receipts and 
payments for the year 1S49. 

CiTT Register's Office, \ 
Baltimore, Jaauary 19th, 18i9. J 

Gentlemen of the First ayid 

Second Branches of the City Council. 

In compliance with his duty, the City Eegister herewith pre- 
sents his annual statement. 

The receipts into the Treasury during the past year were 
$925,997.20. The payments amounted to $963,862.72, including 
in this sura the balance of $84,902.14 against the Treasury on the 
31st of December, 1847. 

The balance to the debit of the Treasury on the 31st of Decem- 
ber, 1848, it will be thus seen, was $37,865.52. 

The liabilities with which the present year commences, are 
these : 

For one quarter's interest on Stock Debt for Inter- 
nal Improvements, due 31st of December, 1848.... $72,823 23 

For one quarter's interest on Stock Debt for other 
than Court House and Internal Improvements 5,845 24 

For amount due to Trustees of the Poor, and to the 

German and Hiberniati Societies 10,579 59 

For amount due to owners of property sold for city 
taxes 4,194 G4 

For amount due to owners of property sold for pay- 
ing taxes 1,124 28 

Amount forwarded $ 94,066 93 

7* 



142 MEMOIRS OF 

Amount brought forward $ 94,066 98 

For amount due to owners of property taken for 

paying taxes 6,781 30 

$100,848 28 
Add deficit, as above 37,865 52 

$138,713 80 



The foregoing exhibit shows a condition of the city finances a 
little improved, in comparison with the last annual statement, 
and this will be the more notable, when the deficiency in the 
actual receipts from the levy of 1848 is taken into consideration, 
arising from the unusual amount of discount allowed b}'- the City 
Collector for prompt payment, (say $22,331.66,) as well as the 
abatements made by the Appeal Tax Court on the basis of that 
levy, (say $1,102,769.) 

The demands upon the Treasury for the current year are shown 
by the annexed tables to be as follows : 

Balance against the Treasury, existing claims, and 

requisitions of the several departments, &c $917,493 63 

Estimated receipts 416,203 11 

To be provided for by taxes $501,290 52 



I have received from the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad Com- 
pany $122,500, in a certificate for twelve hundred and twenty-five 
shares of the stock of said company, being the amount of divi- 
dend declared, and thus paid on the stock held by the city. Of 
course, this is considered as inappreciable as a part of the reve- 
nues for the year. 

In making an estimate for the levy of taxes to be provided, it 
will be seen that it is calculated upon the collection of six-tenths, 
on a basis of $77,500,000 of assessable property. It was thought 
better to take this calculation, for the reason that seven-tenths 
are seldom if ever collected within the year, and any amount 
over the smaller proportion is more than lost in the discrepancy 
betw^een the arrearages of old taxes estimated as collectable and 
the sum which is actually' collected, to say nothing of the many 
expenditures authorized by ordinances during the session of the 
Council, and which can never be anticipted by the Eegister. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 



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144 



MEMOIES OF 



As an index for the action of the Council, the foregoing table 
shows that a levy of one hundred and seven and one-half cents on 
the one hundred dollars will be required to cover the expendi- 
tures for the year 1849. As stated heretofore, this calculation, 
however, is made on the supposition that no reduction of the 
estimates of the several departments be made, as well as on the 
basis that no very extraordinary expenditures be authorized. 
Kespectfully submitted, 

JOHN J. GKAYES, Register. 

The existing and estimated claims on account of Corporatio7i Ex- 
penses ; and for other purposes, for the payment of which the 
receipts from the Direct Tax, is applicable, together xoith receipts 
from other sources, as specified, are as folloxos : 

Existing Claims. 

Due to the Trustees of the Poor, and to 
the German and Hibernian Societies, 
for commutation on Foreign Emi- 
grants, for the year 1848 $10,579 59 

Due to owners of property sold for city 

taxes 4,194 64 

Due to owners of property sold for pav- 
ing taxes 1,124 28 

Due to owners of property taken for 

opening streets 6,781 30 

Due quarter's interest, Dec. 31st, 1848, 
on City Stock, other than for Court 
House and internal Improvements... 5,845 24 

$28,425 05 

Estimated Expenses for 1849. 
For interest on City Stock Debt, other 
than Court House and Internal Im- 
provements, 

55,421 84 five per cts. | 
343,497 82 six per cts. i 

Amount forwarded $ 51,806 00 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 145 

Amount brought forward $ 51,806 CO 

Fo7- set'vice of City Coniynissioners' and Po7't TFarrfens' 
Departmenis^ as per estimate A. 

For deepening and improving the 

harbor $25,000 00 

For repairs of paved streets 12.000 00 

For repairs of unpaved streets 1,000 00 

For repairs of public wharves 1,200 00 

For repairs of bridges 2,000 00 

For repairs of sewers 1,000 00 

For repairs of fire plugs and cisterns... 1,200 00 

For repairs of pumps 8,000 00 

For flag and stepping stones 1,500 00 

For paving and re-paving cross streets, 30,000 00 

For erection of new fire plugs 1,500 00 

For erection and removal of lamps 1,000 00 

For City's proportion of re-paving 

streets 5,000 00 

For purchase of oak plank 1,200 00 

For erection of Belle-Air market house 

—balance due 3,294 11 

$94,894 11 

For service of Health Depa7-iment, as per estimate B. 

For Health Department, proper $ 1,500 00 

For removal of nuisances 1,000 00 

For cleaning streets 10,000 00 

For new small pox hospital 2,000 00 

$15,000 00 

For General Expenditures. 

For diary account of City Council $ 6,000 00 

For watching and lighting the city 75 000 00 

For salaries of city ofiicers 40,000 00 

For printing, stationery and incidentals 2,600 00 

For editors of newspapers 500 00 

$124,100 00 

Amount forwarded $285,800 11 



146 MEMOIRS OF 

Amount brought forward $285,800 11 

For ground rent on city property 1,807 11 

For water rent, Centre fountain 450 00 

For water rent, Centre, Hanover and 

Lexington markets, and City Hall... 110 00 

For water rent, extra plug at Lexing- 
ton market, due 1st May, 1848, and 

repairs at Charles street spring, 1845, 25 00 

For fuel for City Hall 300 GO 

For interest to estate of Wm. McDonald 90 00 

For widows and orphans of those who 

fell in defence of the city 500 00 

For annual appropriations to tire com- 
panies 8,500 00 

For expense of corporate election 220 00 

For insurance on city property 200 00 

For general dispensary for taking care 

of lost children 75 00 

For Southen dispensary 400 00 

For Eastern " 400 00 

For general " 400 00 

For keeping in repair the town clock 

and alarm bell 95 00 

For support of insane poor at Mary- 
land and Mount Hope Hospitals 2.500 00 

For incidentals, Mayor's office 250 00 

For incidentals, Police office 130 00 

For incidentals, City Commissioners' 

office 100 00 

For incidentals, Appeal Tax Court 

office 100 00 

For incidentals. City Collector's office, 600 00 

For incidentals, springs and public 

walk 40 00 

For third annual instalment and inter- 

ets on Belle-Air market loan 5,875 00 

$ 23,167 11 



Amount forwarded , $308,96 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 147 

Amount brought forward $308,967 22 

For paving, &c., at Union Square, as 

per Ordinance No. 22,. of 1847 3,900 00 

For paving in front of city property.... 2,000 GO 

For iron bridge at Fayette street 7,000 00 

For steam tug — balance due 3,000 00 

For payment to J. & S. Canby, as per 

Ordinance No. 32, of 1844 2,500 00 

For discount on taxes for prompt paj'- 
ment, as per estimate of City Col- 
lector 13,000 00 

For excess of receipts over payments, 

on account of internal improvements 27,316 34 

For excess of receipts over payments, 

on account of County Court 1,914 34 

For excess of receipts over payments, 

on account of public schools 2,415 12 

For excess of receipts over payments, 

on account of highways and bridges, 456 49 

For balance against the City Treasury, 

December 31st, 1848 37,965 52 

$101,467 81 

* $410,435 03 

Estimated PvEceipts. 

For arrears of direct tax, as per esti- 
mate of City Collector $79,296 93 

For commissions on paving tax 3,000 00 

For interest on arrears of taxes 4,000 00 

For fines from city officers 300 CO 

For fines in general 75 00 

For licenses for theatrical performances 1,500 00 

For licenses granted by the city 20,700 00 

For tonnage and wharfage, exclusive 

of per centage to harbor masters 19,500 00 

For market rents 17,500 00 

Amount forwarded $145,87193 



148 MEMOIRS OF 

Amovint brought forward $145,871 93 

For market rents, new Belair market 500 00 

For quarantine revenue 1,800 00 

For licenses granted by the State to 

ordinary keepers 12,600 00 

For dividends on turnpike road stocks, 480 00 
For fines and forfeitures from the 

Sheriff , 800 00 

For city seals 300 00 

For rent lower end of Bowly's wharf... 300 00 

For sale of stalls in new Belair market 3,600 CO 

For establishing boundaries 30 00 

For hire of-mud machine? 2,462 75 

For permits of vaults and areas 190 00 

For storage of gunpowder 500 00 

For sale of manure, &c., &c., as per 

.statement of Board of Health, B 117 00 

For excess of payments over receipts on 

account of City Poor 214 93 

For excess of payments over receipts on 

account of City Court 714 87 

$170,481 48 

Direct Tax. 

For payment of estimated expenditures 
for the several departments, as above 

specified $410,435 03 

From receipts from various sources, as 

above... 170,481 53 

Amount required from direct tax for 1849 $239,953 50 



Internal Improvements. 

For one quarter's interest on City Stock 
debt for Internal Improvements, due 
31st of December, 1848 .- $72,323 23 

Amount forwarded $72,323 23 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 149 

Amount brought forward $72,323 23 

For one year's interest on $1 ,113,215.80 
6 per cent, and $850,000 5 per cent. 

Internal Improvement stock 289,292 92 

$361,616 15 

Estimated receipts from arrears of In- 
ternal Improvements tax $149,499 76 

Interest on account of railroad orders 

not funded 700 00 

Due from City Treasury — excess of re- 
ceipts over payments 27,316 34 

177,516 10 

Amount required from Internal Improvement tax 
for 1849 ■. $184,100 05 



City Court. 

Due on account of expenses of City 

Court $6,261 28 

Estimated expenses of City Court for 
1849, including salaries of Associate 
Judges 18,500 00 

Due City Treasurj^ for excess of pay- 
ments over receipts 714 87 

$25,476 15 

Estimated receipts from arrears of City 

Court Tax 7,501 13 

Amount required from City Court Tax 

for 1849 $17,975 02 



County Court. 

Due on account of expenses of Balti- 
more County Court, and Judges and 
Clerks of Elections $7,948 50 

Amount forwarded $7,948 50 



150 MEMOIRS OF 

Amount brought forward $7,948 50 

Estimated City's proportion of the ex- 
penses of Baltimore Count}' Court for 
1849 \ 5,800 00 

Estimated City's proportion of expenses 

of Orphan's Court 2,400 00 

Due on account of criminal cases re- 
moved to Anne Arundel County Court 200 00 

For Sinking Fund and interest on Court 

House Stock Debt 3,281 25 

Estimated expenses of repairs of Court 

House, keeper's salary, fuel, &c 1,202 50 

Estimated expenses of the Jail, exclu- 
sive of fees, &c 5,000 00 

Estimated expenses of Coroner's In- 
quests 800 CO 

Estimated expenses of State Elections.. 420 00 

Estimated expenses erf Colonization Tax 1,970 00 

For Kegister, per ordinance 100 00 

— $29,112 25 

Estimated receipts- from arrears from 

tax for County Court 9,239 32 

Due from Cit}' Treasury for excess of 

receipts over pavments 1.914 34 

11,153 66 

Amount required from County Court Tax for 1849... $17,958 59 

Highways and Bridges. 

Estimated amount required for the re- 
pairs of Highways and Bridges with- 
out the limits of direct taxation $3,000 00 

Estimated receipts from arrears of taxes $1,781 44 

Due from City Treasury for excess of 

receipts over payments 456 49 

2,237 93 

Amount required from Highways and Bridges tax 

for 1849 $762 07 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 151 

Public Scuools, 

Estimated salaries of teachers $36,500 00 

Estimated rent and ground rent 2,600 00 

Estimated books and stationery 8,000 00 

Estimated bills outstanding 6,000 GO 

Estimated general and school incidentals 6,000 00 
Bills payable, notes to Firemen's Insur- 
ance Company 8,636 17 

Salaries of Secretary and Treasurer 900 GO 

68,636 17 

Balance in hands of Treasurer 1,882 98 

Estimated fees for tuition 19,000 00 

Estimated City's part of State School 

Fund 5,504 09 

Estimated arrears from School Tax 14,433 21 

Due from City Treasury for excess of 

receipts over payments 2,415 12 

43,235 40 

Amount required from School Tax for 1849 $25,400 77 

City Poor. 

Estimated City's proportion of expenses 
of Alms House, as per report of Trus- 
tees $19,102 90 

Due City Treasury for excess of pay- 
ments over receipts 214 98 

$19,317 88 

Estimated receipts from arrears of City Poor Tax... 4,177 36 

Amount required from Poor Tax for 1849 $15,149 52 

Kecapitulation. 

For existing claims against the City and 
expenses per estimate, including bal- 
ance against the City Treasury, Dec. 
31, 1848 $410,435 03 

Amount forwarded $410,435 03 



152 MEMOIRS OF 

Amount brought forward $410,435 03 

For expenses of Internal Improve- 
ments 861.615 15 

For City Court 25,476 15 

For County Court 29,112 25 

For High ways' and Bridges 3,000 CO 

For Public Schools 68,636 17 

For City Poor 19,318 88 

From licenses, market rents, &c 170,481 53 

From arrears Internal Improvement 

Tax, &c 177,516 10 

From arrears City Court Tax, &c 7,501 13 

From arrears County Court Tax, &c... 11,153 66 
From arrears Highways and Bridges 

Tax, &c 2,237 93 

From arrears Public School Tax, &c... 43,235 40 

From arrears City Poor Tax 4,177 36 



917,593 633 



416,303 11 



Amount of taxes required for the year 1849 $501,290 52 



COLONEL ELIJAH STAIsSBURY. 153 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Measures Taken to Relieve the Sufferings op the 
tk Poor and in Favor of Seamen, &c. 

The rigors of stern winter had scarcely begun when 
tlic Mayor inaugurated immediate measures for the 
relief of the suffering poor, as will be seen by the fol- 
lowing notice : 



Mayor's Office, 



..} 



■ Baltimoue, January 5, 18J9. 

Notice. — As it has been customary for our citizens, during a 
severe season, to concert efficient measure, in their respective 
wards, for the relief of the suffering poor, and the weather having 
become very inclement, I would hereby respectfully and earnestly 
recommend that the citizens meet in their respective wards on 
Monday eveniyig next, the 8th instant, at 7 o'clock, at their usual 
places of meeting, and appoint committees to collect funds for 
the above benevolent object. 

ELIJAH STANSBURY, Mayor. 

Collections for the Poor. 
The Mayor has issued a card recommending our citizens to 
assemble in their different wards this evening for the purpose of 
appointing committees to collect funds to supply the wants of the 
poor of our city during the present inclement season. The case 
is urgent and should receive immediate attention. 

This appeal was responded to by a call of ward 
meetings, resulting in the appointing of the following 
committees: 

Eelief of the Poor. 
The following arc the names of the ward committees appointed 
to make collections, &c., as far as ascertained: 



164 MEMOIRS OF 

Ut Ward. David Grieves^ Jr., E. P. Lupton, E. Horney, W. 
Abbott, Richard Bishop, Sr., James Bondy, John Garritt, Wm. 
Coltoii, Captain John Ery, John Welch, Jr., O. Wood, Wm. 
Bankard, Dr. Mowell, Wm Dean. 

2d Ward. James E. Collins, J. McWilliams, Wm. Strobel, 
Christopher Hergersheimer, Dr. Douglass, Edward Dulin, John 
Bandel, Joseph Mintz, John Wells and James Mullin, Sr. 
James E. Collins was appointed Treasurer. The Collecting 
Committee are requested to proceed at once to the discharge of 
their duties, and report the result to the Treasurer. 

4fh Ward. Edward G. Starr, Thomas Sullivan, J. 11. Millikin, 
J. F. Hoss, Dr. J. Keene, W. Coath, A. S. Dungan, Captain 
Trippc, H. Reynolds, W^. H. Hiss. 

6th Ward, Hugh Bolton, Wm. Bailey, A. S. Abell, George 
Brown, James Flemming, Patrick McKey, H. S. Sanderson, Jas. 
Lucas, Clement Carter, D. L. Maulsby, J. McCormick, AVm. 
Whitelock, J. E. Warner, G. W. King, Daniel King, Daniel 
Sleeger, William Swain, Joshua Creamer, Jesse Joyce, Samuel 
Rankin, Mahlon Ely, Joshua Swinney. Thomas Matthews, 
Treasurer, at whose lumber office the different committees will be 
expected to meet and report this (Thursday) evening. 

6th Ward. E. Eoreman, R. Betts, H. McElderry, James Allen, 
J. B. Wheat, W. D. Roberts, S. Kirby, P. Gorsuch, D. E. 
Thomas, E. Hutton, J. J. Stewart, S. Benjamin, A. R. Blakeney, 
R. Crawford and J. Mitchell. An adjourned meeting is to be 
held on Friday in this ward, at Ellis', near the Belair Market. 

10th Ward. 1st District— Wm. N. Brice and W M. Addison. 
2d District— H. Irvin, S. B. Owings, A. Hobbs, W. H. G. Dor- 
sey, G. R. Cinnamond. 3d District — I. Stewart, E. Laroque, P. 
McLaughlin, Colonel Pickell, 4th District— J. Mitchell, H. 
Griffin, C. Hogg, S. Hart. 5th District— J. Hulse, J. McColgan. 
6th District— F. E. Brennan, W. H. Tarr, E. S. Fryer, W. F. 
Carey. 7th District— S. Sides, R. Morthland. An adjourned 
meeting is to be held in this ward on Friday. 

12th Ward. Jacob Horn, James Getty, Samuel Shaffner, Henry 
Beamer, Mr. Bensingor, Jr., Charles M. Keyser, L. G. Quinlan, 
James Barlow, E. Wall, Walter Ball, Wm. Keilholtz, Abner 
Webb, David Taylor, R. Marley, V. Dushane, John Bingham, 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 155 

Jacob Smith, Wm. H. Mann, Henry Shirk, James "Wilson and 
Benjamin Price. 

13th Ward. James L. Maguire, W. A. Hack, J. Norwood, S. 
Courts, Charles Myers, John Lancaster, Samuel Feast, W. Coul- 
son and L. Stewart. 

16th Ward. Dr. Raborg, John Coates, Francis Burns, Michael 
Toner, Joel Wright, J. B. Emery, J. Lockerd. 

ISth Ward. A. H. Durocher, Allen Paine, Matthew Clark, 
Charles Coyle, C. E. Cook, J. P. Brotherton, J. J. Grindall, Jos. 
Brown. 

19th Ward. John Feast, Eichard Robinson, Joshua Dryden, 
John IS'orwood, Nathaniel Cox, David IMcGall, John Spicer, 
Samuel Feast, Henry Kauffman, Caleb "Whitmore, Hugh Dunlap, 
John liancaster, Samuel McMurray, Charles Myers, Lemuel 
Stewart, Wm. McCoy. 

:?Oth Ward. E. G Penrose, John McClernan, Geo. R. Dodge, 
John W. Walker, John McPherson, Jas. Lawson, Henry Tiffany, 
John Loney, Charles To wson, Elisha Carback. 

This was followed by a Ball for the relief of the 
poor, as the following indicates: 

Relief of the Poor. 

THE GRAND CIVIC AND MILITARY BALL FOR THE 
BENEFIT OF THE POOR 

W' ill be held at the 

HOLLIDAY StPwEET TllEATRE, 

0)1 Thursday Evenivg, Sth of March. 

Every arrangement will be made to render it one of the most 
brilliant and agreeable Balls ever held in this city. 

Tickets One Dollar each — admitting a gentleman and two 
ladies. 



156 



MEMOIRS OF 



The Executive Committee have the honor to present to the 
citizens of Baltimore, the following list of Managers : 

Upon the part of the Municipal Authorities : 

Hon. Elijah Stassbury, Jr., Maj'or of Baltimore. 
The Members of the First and Second Branches of the City 
Council. 



Upoii the 2>ci,rt of the MilitarTj 
Major-General Smith and Staff, 



Brigadier-General Leakin, 

Brigadier-General Dutton, 

Colonel Hickman, 

Colonel Maguire, 

Colonel Anderson, 

Colonel Pickell, 

Colonel Davies, 

Colonel Bouldin, 

Colonel Ninde, 

Colonel Thompson, 

Colonel Kopes, 

Lieut.-Col. Miles, U. S. A. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Sanderson, 

Lieutenant-Colonel Gill, 

Lieutenant-Colonel Spurrier, 

Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, 

Lieutenant-Colonel Benzinger, 

Lieutenant-Colonel Peters, 

Major McPhail, U. S. A. 

Major Elterman, 

Major Gover, 

Major Gittings, 

Major J. J. Turner. 

Major J. R. Kenly, 

Major Watkins, 

Major Gilmor, 

Major Sweeney, 



Major Archer, 
Captain Hall, 
Captain Harris, 
Captain Kalkman, 
Captain Lilly, 
Captain Marshall, 
Captain Shutt, 
Captain Bouldin, 
Captain McAllister, 
Captain Emmart, 
Captain Thompson, 
Captain Suter, 
Captain Krien, 
Captain Swain, 
Captain Grundy, 
Lieutenant Gross, 
Lieutenant Laws, 
Lieutenant Egerton, 
Lieutenant Hunt, 
Lieutenant Spilman, 
Lieutenant Saunders, 
Lieutenant Davis, 
Lieutenant Holland, 
Lieutenant Brown, 
Lieutenant Bowers, 
Lieutenant Hamilton, 
Lieutenant Street. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 



157 



f}jo?i the part of the Citizens. 

FIRST ■WARD. 



J. Mayberry Turner, 
Geo. W. Pappler, 
John Slater, 
'John Muckelroy, 
Wm. Costigan, 



John Milholland, 
David Grieves, Jr. 
E. C. Lupton, 
C. C. Phillips, 
Peter Mowell. 



SECOXD WARD. 



John W. Williams, 
Jas. E. Collins, 
Robert M. Spedden, 
A. H. Wood, 
Thomas Hamilton, 
James Beach am. 



D. W. Hudson, 
Mitchell B. Fields, 
T. J. Warrington, 
H. D. McCullough, 
James McNeal, 



Charles F. Maloy, 
James Flaherty, 
Hugh A. Cooper, 
John E. Stansbury, 
James Mullen, Sr. 



THIRD WARD. 



Chas. Gardiner, 
Thomas Donahue, 
John W. Hall, 
Dr. Wm. T. Leonard, 
Henry C. Sultzer. 



FOURTH WARD. 



Edward Petherbridge, 
Alfred Perry, 
Dr. J. Cockey, 
Dr. J. Keene, 
J. Carter, 



J. Higginbotham, 
Wm. Claggett, 
Wm. E. Hanson, 
Thomas Sullivan, 
Colonel Wm. Chesnut. 



FIFTH AVARD. 



Hon. Sorn Hillen, Jr. 
D. L. Maulsby, 
James Lucas, 
Dr. Jno. L. Yeates, 
Hugh Bolton, 
8 



Wm. L. McCauley, 
Jesse Dashields, 
Patrick Dunn, 
Wm. Bailey, 
David Street. 



158 



Evan M. Foreman, 
Wm. H. Bolton, 

Kobert Betts, 
John Ijams, 
John Bolgiano, 



MEMOIRS OF 

SIXTH WARD. 



Emanuel Stansbury, 
H. B. Horton, 
Wm. D. Boberts, 
Jacob Taylor, 
Wm. A. Stuart. 



SETENTH WAKD. 



George A. Levering, 
William A. Devere, 
Thomas GifFord, 
David Parr, 
Alex. Tracey, 



James McNabb, 
John R. Blake, 
Wm. Cunningham, 
AVm. E. Beale, 
George Swearer. 



EIGHTH WARD. 



Isaac M. Denson, 
Isaac G. Roberts, 
Pv. S. Bowie, 
Stephen Fell, 
Wm. H. H. Turner, 



W. A. A. J. Grubb, 
Theophilus Dobler, 
Adam Denmead, 
Lawrence E. Bradj-, 
Marcus Wolf. 



KINTH WARD. 



George Reiley, 
Wm. Prescott Smith, 
Chas. F. Cloud, 
Robert Boyd, 
Robert Wylie, 



Wm. Boyd, Baltimore st. 
Wm. Yernetson, 
Dr. Morris, 
Gaston Lecompte, 
J. C. Ninde. 



TENTH WARD. 



John Neilson, 
I. ;^evitt Steele, 
Joseph B. Williams 
Luther Manship, 
Zenos Barnum, 



T. Parkin Scott, 
George H. Hickman, 
Wm. N. Brice, 
Hon. John P. Kennedy, 
Joseph Simpson. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 

ELEVENTH WARD 



159 



Hon. Robert M. McLane, 
Thomas Swann, 
Lambert S. Norwood, 
R. C. Barry, 
Wm. A. Poor, 



Colonel Mendez 1. Cohen, 
Wesley Cowles, 
Edward V. Ward, 
Lemuel W. Gosnell, 
John Gregg. 



TWELFTH WARD. 



Richard BarroU, 
Edmund Bull, 
George C. Frailey, 
Daniel McCann, 
James Scarf, 



Wm. Mann, 

Hon. Charles M. Kcyser, 
Arthur McGreevy, 
W^m. O. Welsh, 
Joshua Parker. 



THIRTEENTH WARD. 



Wm. P. Pouder, 
Wm. H. Smith, • 
H. Ray Bowie, 
E. O'D. Poor, 
Wm. Pinkney Whyte, 



Edward Boyle, 
James Y. Wagner, 
Robert Close, 
Thomas E. Hamilton, 
Wm. E. Johnson. 



FOURTEENTH WARD. 



Thomas M. Locke, 
Nicholas King, 
Dr. Moreau Eorrest, 
Thomas Carroll, 
Charles McDonald, 



Randolph B. Latimer 
James Dunn, 
Charles Dougherty, 
James Essender, 
J. L. Walsch. 



FIFTEENTH WARD. 



R. T. Pennington, 

Jno. Fitzpatrick, Jr. of Jno, 

Barney Kinsley, 

Wm. Heckrotte, 

Hugh Humphries, 



Captain J. K. Swain, 
Levi Taylor, Jr. 
George Dutton, 
Moses Hindcs, 
George Spies. 



160 



MEMOIRS OF 

SIXTEENTH AVARD. 



Charles Hentz, 
"William Keese, Jr. 
Eicharcl C. Green, 
N. Pamphillion, 
Samuel Mass, 



Robert Mills, 
James R. Jackson, 
Samuel Burns, 
Thomas C. "Wilson, 
John Disnev, 



SEYEXTEEXTIl WAKD. 



L. B. Curley, 
Henry Barton, 
Alex. Gould, Jr, 
Joseph Evans, 
Isaiah Gardner, 



Charles A. Leloup, 
Frederick Cook, 
George Rose, 
Dr. WHiittaker, 
Amos Reeder. 



EIGHTEENTH WARD. 



James J). Marr, 
Charles Coyle, 
Alexander Paul, 
Thomas Lockington, 
Francis Hoover, 



Edward Moon, 
Levi Hoge, 
John Hopkins, 
J. Rodgers, Jr. 
K. Bullock. 



NINETEENTH AVARD. 



Colonel Charles Myers, 
George Suter, 
Wm.^A. Hack, 
David Stewart, 
Frederick W^ood worth, 



George Courtes, 
Wm. Power, 
Richard C. Murray, 
Dr. E. J. Chaisty, 
Louis Servar3^ 



TWENTIETH WARD. 



James Lawson, 
Wm. Edon, 
James J. Lawn, 
Dr. Charles Frick, 
Joseph Krcager, 



Thomas Carson, 
Boudinot Loney, 
Bazil Root, 
Thomas Symington, 
John Cook. 



CHDLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 161 

Executive Committee. 

Col. D. S. Miles, John McPherson, 

Wm. H. Ferguson, Henry K. Reynolds, 

Wm. H. Cole, Jr. Wm. Henry Steuart, 

Colonel Geo. P. Kane, Wm. A. Boyd, 

Sidnor S. Donaldson, Cbas. C Egerton, 

Captain Richard Lilly, Moses Griest, 

Isaac M. Denson, Samuel Harris. 

JOSHUA YANSAXT, Treasurer. 

The Managers arc requested to call on Joshua Yaxsant, Esq., 
the Treasurer, and procure tickets. 

Liberal Donations to the Poor. 

We have been furnished by the Mayor with the following let- 
ters. Such acts of liberality carry with them their own reward, 
and cannot fail of inciting others to "go and do likewise." 



Office Dai.timoke Steam Packet Co , 
Baltimore, January 12lh, 1S49. 



To Elijah Stansbury, Esq., Mayor, 

Sir: I am requested by the Directors of the Baltimore Steam 
Packet Company to present, through you, sixty cords of wood for 
the benefit of the poor of this city, with the request that it be 
distributed by the city missionaries. 

The wood is now on the Company's wharf, subject to your 
order. Very respectfully, 

M. :N'. FALLS, President B. S. P. Co. 

Baltimore, Janu.iry 7tl), 1849. 

Elijah Stansbury, Mayor: 

Sir : I am directed, on the part of the Philadelphia, Wilming- 
ton and Baltimore Railroad Company, to ask your acceptance of 
twenty-five cords of wood for the use of the poor of the city. 
Your order upon John Timmons, at the Depot in President 
street, will be duly honored for that quantity. 
Yery respectfully, 

ALFRED CRAWFORD, Agent. 



162 MEMOIRS OF 

This humane undertaking on the part of the Mayor 
was followed by the immediate organization of ^'The 
Society for Improving the Condition of the Poor/' 
which still exists, proving a blessing to thousands of 
the indigent. 

Mr. Stansbury, ever forward in doing good works, 
published the following notice: 

Keform IX THE United States Navy. 

The undersigned would call the attention of the citizens of 
Baltimore to a meeting to be held at Brown's Buildings on the 
Gih of Mai^cJi, 1849, at 7 o'clock, to take such measures as may in 
their opinion tend to elevate the character of that long neglected 
class of citizens, the American Seamen. 

It is expected that many of our prominent citizens will address 
the meeting. 

Watson G. Haynes and other seamen will make a statement 
of facts interesting to the American people. 

Ladies are respectfully invited to attend. 

ELIJAH STANSBUEY, Mayor. 

Moses J. Hinds, "Wm. H. Hope, 

George A. Davis, Samuel Kramer, 

Edward Hirney, Kramer, Mantz & Co. 

E. C. Wells, Kirkland, Chase & Co. 
Charles Soran, Jas. Corner & Sons, 

F. Littig Shaifer, B. Buck & Sons, 
Henry Y. D. Johns, D. D. E. W. Brune & Sons, 
Wm. Graham & Son, Butts, Pickrell & Co. 
John C. Backus, D. D, Charles E. Mayer, 
E. W. Brune, Jr. A B. Wolfe, 

Alex. Brown & Sons, Wm. Wilson & Sons, 

J. Harman Brown, Wm. E. Mahew, 

D. H. Lawrence, Martin & Yalette, 

S. S. Donaldson, Wm. S. Plumer. 

Ship masters, foremast men, and all who feel interested in ele- 
vating the character of American Seamen, are invited. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 163 

Kev. Dr. Johns, Kector of Christ's Church ; Rev. Dr. Backus, 
Rev. Dr. Plumer, Charles F. Mayer, Esq., and other distin- 
guished gentlemen will address the meeting. Hon. John P. 
Hale, United States Senator, is expected to be present and par- 
ticipate in the proceedings. Admission free. 

The following is an account of the meeting held in 
accordance to the above call : 

Meeting ix Favor or Seamen in the United States Navy. 

A large and interesting meeting of persons favorable to the 
elevation of the character of seamen in the United States Navy, 
by the abolishment of corporeal punishment and of the liquor 
rations, was held in the saloon of Brown's Lyre Building, on 
Tuesday night. The meeting was organized by the appointment 
of the following officers : 

President: Mayor Stansbury. 

Vice-Presidents: Geo. Brown, Captain Cotrell, G. Broadbent, 
"Wm. Kraft, C. Keener, Charles Soran and S. Kramer. 

Secretary : Wm. H. Hope. 

A letter, signed by a number of the seamen on board the 
United States ship Ontario, advocating the objects of the meet- 
ing was read by the Secretary. 

Mr. W. G. Haynes, a seamen, who is devoting his time and 
energies in the endeavor to obtain the abolishment of flogging in 
the Navy, then addressed the meeting. Mr. Haynes, who has 
himself served in the Navy, spoke forcible and warmly of the 
great crueltj' which is sometimes practised towards seamen on 
board the Government vessels, principally by the junior and 
petty officers, and of the bad results which grow out of this 
tyrannical treatment. He had yet to hear of the first seamen 
who had been reformed by flogging ; on the contrary, the degra- 
dation which the infliction of the lash entailed, generally stirred 
up the worst passions of the man, and made him lost to all the 
controlling influences of manliness and self-respect. The seaman 
who had been punished with the " colt " or the " cat " for intem- 
perance, would in many cases resort to the stimulating influence 



164 MEMOIRS OF 

of drink, as a means of drowning the recollecti(>n of his deep 
degradation. 

The advocates of the system of flogging first treated the sailor 
as if he were less than a man and only to be ruled by those influ- 
ences of fear and chastisement by which the brute creation are 
governed, and then argued the necessity of the continuance of the 
degrading system of corporeal punishment from the very state of 
affairs which they had been active in producing. As a general 
rule the vessel in which the most flogging took place was in the 
worst state of discipline. The speaker also forcibly contended 
that intemperance, among both officers and men, was the cause 
of a large majority of the cases of flogging which occurred. Per- 
sons would send their sons or relatives who had been wild, or 
trangressed the bounds of morals or law, into the Navy, as a 
school of reform, but he thought it the most unlikely place where 
any reform could be effected. He had seen few men who had 
been in the Navy any length of time who had not been made 
confirmed drunkards. This was the almost inevitable effect of 
the daily liquor rations which were served out to them. Mr. 
Haynes supported his positions by reading various letters and 
affidavits from seamen on board different naval vessels. 

The meeting was afterwards addressed by the Kev. Dr. Plum- 
mer, who spoke eloquently in behalf of the rights of the sailor, 
and against the present system of flogging ; and also by C. 
Keener, Esq , the latter confining his remarks almost exclu- 
sively to the temperance view of the case, and to the propriety 
of abolishing the liquor rations. 

The Rev. Mr. Preeman, the tract distributor, then addressed 
the meeting, giving the result of his experience and observation 
whilst serving, in his youth, as a "pressed " seaman in the British 
Navy. His remarks were deeply interesting, and received much 
attention. 

Mr. S. Kramer presented a series of resolutions approving of 
the efforts making to elevate the character of the seamen in the 
Navy, and authorizing the appointment of a committee to take 
the subject into consideration, and to report at another meeting, 
to be called by them, the most advisable plan of action for the 
furtherance of the objects in view. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 165 

The resolutions were adopted, and the Chair appointed the 
following gentlemen on the Committee: Messrs. S. Kramer, G. 
Broadbent, C. Keener, A. G. Cole, Captain Cotrell. 

The meeting then adjourned. 

Mr. Stansbury, though elected as a Democrat, 
proved himself essentially the Mayor for the people, 
always cooperating with them in every noble enter- 
prise, as the following indicates : 

York and Cumberland Kailroad. 

A meeting of the citizens of Baltimore favorable to the exten- 
sion of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Bailroad to Harrisburg, 
by the immediate construction of the York and Cumberland Kail- 
road, was held last evening in the large saloon of Brown's Build- 
ings, Baltimore street. The room was filled before the hour 
announced for the commencement of the meeting, and the pro- 
ceedings and spirit manifested throughout evinced a determina- 
tion to consummate an undertaking fraught with vitality to the 
interests and trade of Baltimore. 

The meeting was called to order by General C. O'Donnell, who 
moved that his Honor, the Mayor, be called to the Chair, which 
motion prevailed, and Elijah Stansbury,, Esq., accordingly 
presided. 

George M. Gill, Esq., then proposed the following gentlemen 
as Vice-Presidents, who were unanimously elected : 
Gen. C. O'Donnell, John Q. Hewlett, 

Johns Hopkins, David S. Wilson, 

Wm. A. Hack, Israel Griffith, 

William Bose, John S. Gittings, 

William Heald, O. C. Tiffany, 

Robert Wylie, W^m. H. Collins, 

C. Brooks, Samuel G. Wymau, 

D. B. Banks, Thos. Wilson, 
James Beatty, Henry Tiffany, 
S. Owings Hofl:man, Samuel Barnes, 
Wm. E. Mavhew, J. Hanson Thomas, 



166 



MEMOIRS OF 



John M, Gordon, 
Wm. G. Harrison, 
James H. Wilson, 
Wm. D. Miller, 
Josias Pennington, 
Thos. C. Jenkins, 
Henry Eiemen, 
Isaac Munroe, 
J. I. Cohen, 
David Stuart, 
Henry Shirk, 
Thomas Kelso, 
Thomas J. Carson, 
Samuel Keady, 

On motion of JSTeilson Poe, Esq. 
appointed Secretaries : 

J, H. Carter, 
Enoch Pratt, 
Patrick H. Sullivan, 



James Erazier, 
E. W. Brune, 
Thomas "Whitridge, 
G. K. Gaither, 
John P. Kennedy, 
Samuel Riggs, 
G. Av. Spreckelsen,' 
Jos. W. Patterson, 
Hugh Jenkins, 
Gilbert Cassard, 
Hugh McElderry, 
Harry E. Turner, 
John Eitzpatrick, 
James "Williams. 

the following gentlemen were 

Benj. C. Presstman, 
Joseph C. Manning, 
Charles Soran. 



The meeting being fully organized, the Chairman, with some 
appropriate remarks, introduced General Thomas C. Hambly, of 
Pennsylvania, the President of the York and Cumberland Rail- 
road Company, who addressed the meeting at some length, advo- 
cating in the most forcible manner, and with the most convincing 
arguments, the necessity, for the prosperity and trade of Balti- 
more, of the connection of the two roads, sought to be accom- 
plished by the present movement. 

After General Hambly had concluded, James H. Carter, Esq., 
offered the following resolution, which he supported in an elo- 
quent manner : 

Resolved, That the extension of the Baltimore and Susquehanna 
Railroad to Harrisburg, by the immediate construction of the York 
and Cumberland Railroad, is an enterprise of pressing and impera- 
tive necessity, demanded as a measure of self defence and prompted 
by every just consideration of individual and private interest, as well 
as by the most obvious motives of enlightened public policy. 

ThG resolution was unanimously adopted. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. J 67 

Christian Keener, Esq , then introduced the following resolu- 
tion, which was unanimously adopted, and to which he spoke in 
his peculiar forcible and emphatic manner : 

Besohcd, That the amount of money necessary to construct the 
York and Cumberland Railroad, being a sum much less than the 
present city tax for a single year, can easily be raised — must be raised 
—and roilL be raised; and that, in the opinion of every considerate 
men who has given the subject the least attention, the investment in 
the stock of the Company must pay a good interest to the holder, 
whilst the city will derive an incalculable benefit from the invest- 
ment, in the security and extension of Ler trade, and the consequent 
enhancement in the value of her property. 

Johns Hopkins, Esq., made a motion that the meeting pass 
from speaking to aci'mg, and that the books for subscription to 
stock in the proposed Eoad be opened and presented to every man 
in the room ; which was accordingly done, and resulted in an 
additional subscription to the amount already subscribed of one 
thousand three hundred and seventy-four shares. 

Whilst the subscription books were being circulated, Thomas 
Wilson, Esq., rose, and after some remarks on the necessity of 
immediate action, stated his willingness to head a list of one 
hundred subscribers for one hundred shares each, on condition 
that the proposed number could be obtained. Five other gentle- 
men promptly announced their readiness to join in this subscrip- 
tion, making the total amount, positive and conditional, sub- 
scribed at the meeting about two thousand shares. 

On motion of J. H. Carter, Esq., the following resolution was 
unanimously adopted : 

Resolved, That an Executive Committee of Twenty gentlemen be 
appointed by this meeting, to act in conjunction with General Thomas 
C. Hambly, the President of the York and Cumberland Railroad Cora- 
pany, and George M. Gill, Adam Denmead and Wm. B. DuvalJ, Esqs., 
Directors in said Company : That said Committee, in connection with 
the gentlemen named, be charged with the duty of procuring the 
necessary subscriptions to the Stock of the Company, and that they 
have full power to adopt such measures, and employ such agencies 
and means as they may deem best calculated to insure the success of 
the enterprise, and report the result of their proceedings to a meeting 



168 MEMOIRS OF 

of the Stockholders, to be convened by them for that purpose : And 
that said Committee consist of the following gentlemen : 

Gen. C. O'Donnell, J. H. Carter, 

Johns Hopkins, George Bartlett, 

Henry Tiflany, John Glenn, 

Thomas "Wilson, George W. Cox, 

Benj. Deford, John M. Orem, 

Aug. J. Albert, Wm. D. Miller, 

Joseph W. Jenkins, Henry Shirk, 

Enoch Pratt, G. Av. Spreckelsen, 

P. H. Sullivan, James Tyson, 

Zenos Barnum, Geo. W. N orris, 

■with power to fill vacancies, add to their number, and appoint sub- 
committees to act under their direction. 

George W. Norris, Esq., submitted the following resolution, 
which was also unanimously adopted. 

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting., and of the citizens of 
Baltimore generally, are eminently due to General TiiomAs C. HAir- 
BLV, for the energy, zeal and perseverance which he has exhibited, 
under the most depressing and discouraging circumstances, in bring- 
ing to the notice of the citizens, keeping before them, and pressing on 
their attention, the important subject of the York and Cumberland 
Railroad. 

The following resolution, oftered by G-eorge M. Gill, Esq., was 
adopted ; 

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the 
several daily papers of the city. 

The meeting then adjourned. 

[The gentlemen named above as composing the Executive 
Committee are requested to meet at Barnum 's Hotel, this even- 
ing, at half past seven o clock.] 

From the Baltimore American. 

Municipal CouPwTesies. 

Monsieur Yattemare, the originator and zealous advocate of 
the system of national interchanges, was in our city a few days 
since, and in company with several gentlemen called on Mayor 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUllY. 169 

IStansbur}', at the City Hall, and on behalf of the city of Paris 
presented to the city of Baltimore a collection of volumes and 
pamphlets ; the most of which contain the laws by which the 
internal government of Paris is regulated ; together with some 
valuable statistics and reports of its municipal officers. M. Yatte- 
mare, in making the presentation, indulged in a few appropriate 
remarks in which he stated that to Baltimore must be accorded 
the honor of having been the first city which responded to his 
system of national interchanges, two of her former Mayors, Law 
and Davies, having on diiferent occasions had jirepared and for- 
warded to the city of Paris, copies of the ordinances of the city 
with the laws of the State relating thereto. The books presented 
by M. Yattemare are many of them quite large and valuable, and 
have beautifully stamped with wax on the outer cover the corpo- 
rate seal of the city of Paris. They will be placed in the city 
library for reference and preservation. 



170 MEMOIRS OF 



CHAPTER XY. 

The Approval of his AYise Administration by the 
Press — His Second Message. 

During the administration of Colonel Stansbury, 
the municipal affairs were conducted with such exact 
economy and prudence as to win the unqualified ap- 
proval of all parties. On the 22d of January, 1850, 
the Baltimore American remarked : 

The citizens of Baltimore have met the taxation of the past 
year with commendable promptitude and universality. During 
the year the City Collector received for taxes, |690,017 67, being 
$61,452 80 more than during any preceding year. The total 
value of assessed property at the end of the year was $80,237,960, 
being an increase during the year of $1,985,272. 

Regarding a healthy condition of the finances of a 
city as all important to the success of its Chief Magis- 
trate's administration, the remarks of the American 
(Whig) are but a deserv^ed compliment. 

Progressive improvement of the city is the next 
consideration, and in reference to which the same 
paper remarks : 

From the Baltimore American. 
TuNXELLixG or Harford Eun. 

The ordinance providing for the tunnelling of Harford run, 
from Fayette to Lombard streets, has passed both Branches of 
the City Council, and will, no doubt, receive the approval of 
the Mayor. The bill appropriates $2,700 for defraying the ex- 
pense of the proposed tunnelling. It is intended to tunnel two 
squares of the run each year, until the whole is completed. The 
cost of the whole \% estimated at $14,000. 



COI.ONEI. ELIJAH STANSBUIIY. 171 

Health of Baltimore. 

The peculiar exemption of this city from the visitation of the 
Cholera during the past year, whilst its ravages were felt in all 
the other large cities and in almost every State in the Union, is 
appropriately dwelt upon by the Mayor in his communication. 
It appears that the total number of deaths in Baltimore, during 
the year 1849, was 4,576; and of these 3,248 were still-born, or 
under ten years, or over fifty years — reducing the mortality of 
tho>?e between the ages of ten and fifty years to the comparatively 
small number of 1,328. 

New HorsEs. 

The total number of new brick houses of all classes, erected in 
this city during the past year, is oflicially stated to be one thou- 
sand eight hundred and ninety-four. The march of improvement 
is not confined to any particular section of Baltimore ; its pres- 
ence is visible in every quarter, i^either is it the result of specu- 
lative operations, but the fruit of healthful, substantial progress 
in the development of our admirable natural resources and posi- 
tion. Compared with JS'ew^ York and Philadelphia, the account 
of new houses in 1849 stands as follows : 

New York, new^ buildings 1,495 

Philadelphia city and liberties 3,000 

Baltimore 1,894 

In speaking of the Register's Summary, the same 
paper adds : 

Register's Summary. 

We lay before our readers this morning the annual exhibit of 
the Finances of the City, submitted to the City Council yester- 
day afternoon by the Register. It is a document that cannot fail 
to command attention. 

It is a remarkable flict that every important measure 
suggested by Mayor Stansbury was, after due delibera- 
tion, adopted by the Council, except one, and the 



172 MEMOIRS OF 

failure to cany it out by that body, continues to this 
day to be a subject of regret. We refer to the propo- 
sition to buy Colonel Howard's property, to be laid 
out as a public park. As an evidence of this, we 
would state that as late as 1871, twenty-two years 
having elapsed, a proposition has appeared in the dif- 
ferent newspapers to buy the mere remnant now left for 
a like purpose. This fact shows the forethought and 
wisdom of Mayor Stansbury. 

CITY AFFAIRS— MA TORS MESS A GE. 

We publish, in another part of this morning's American, the 
Annual Communication of the Mayor to the City Council, which 
body assembled yesterdaj-^ afternoon in regular annual session. It 
is a paper which comes home to the interests of all classes, and 
will therefore command a very general and attentive perusal. — 
Baltimore American. 

Mayor's Communicatiox. 

Mayor's Office, 1 

BALTiiiORE, Jaauary 2)st, 1850./ 

To the Members of the First and 

Second Branches of the City Council. 
Gentlemen : Perhaps the representatives of no people on 
earth who ever assembled together, had more real or just cause 
for gratitude and thankfulness to Almighty God, not only for 
blessings which have been received, but for calamities withheld, 
than have you, and the constituency whom you represent. In 
uniting with you in this reverential acknowledgment, I feel that 
it is not with the formality customary upon occasions like the 
present, but with the most solemn recognition and appreciation 
of the divine graciousness and mercy. 

The year which has just passed will be remembered throughout 
many portions of the world, as one of pestilence and terror. The 
Asiatic Cholera, alike dreadful and mysterious, did not exempt 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUIIY. 173 

our country from the tribute of death, which it lias so rigidly, 
and with fearful fatality, exacted from mankind. That our con- 
stituents, although surrounded by the epidemic, should have 
escaped a doom which almost seemed inevitable, and which con- 
vulsed whole communities, is cause of no ordinary thankfulness 
and reflection. How far, under divine Providence, the prepara- 
tions made by authority of the Council, to avert the calamity, 
had the effect of doing so, is of course beyond the reach of human 
knowledge. In carrying out the provisions of the Council with 
untiring promptness and energy, it should not be forgotten, that 
many of our citizens aided the public authorities with zeal, 
liberality and efficiency. From Avhatever cause, however, this 
mercy was vouchsafed to us as a people, it ought at least to ad- 
monish us for the future that no investment pays a more enlarged 
interest than a judicious application of means for the sanatory 
protection of the city. 

I respectfully invite your attention to the details of the various 
reports herewith submitted. "Without exception, they all exhibit 
great care, attention and watchful regard for the public interest. 
A close examination of them \\\\\ not only repay for the time 
expended, but give a critical knowledge of the condition and 
prospects of the city, which cannot be found elsew^here. Such 
investigation, I am quite sure, you will make ; and if united with 
a comparison of similar documents, submitted within the last 
quarter of a century, no stronger or more infallible evidence can 
be had of the increasing responsibilities we mutually incur, in 
consideration of the immensely increasing interests Ave have to 
guard. From the number of houses annually built in Baltimore, 
dating from the last year or two, it is a fair inference, that there 
is added to our population yearly double the number of souls that 
any inland town in the State contains at this time. Such ex- 
tended interests are not more sacred than lesser ones, but their 
various ramifications demand a more cautious S3^stem of legis- 
lative action. 

In submitting to your consideration the report of the Board of 
Health, I cannot withhold an expression of approbation it so 
eminently merits. At all times, the duty of this Board is one of 
great responsibility, but during the past year made more so, by 



174 



MEMOIRS OF 



com- 



con- 
con- 



the apprehension of impending peril. The gentlemen who 
pose the Board met the crisis not only with promptness and 
ability, but with great economy. There is still remaining a 
siderable sum of the first appropriation of $5,000, and the 
tingent for an equal amount still remains in the Treasury of the 
city. 

During the past year there have been 4,576 deaths in the city, 
of which 3,248 were either still-born, under ten years of age, or 
over fifty. The remarks of the Board, in reference to the large 
number of children, who die in parturition, deserve particular 
attention. 

Prom the returns of the Vaccine Physicians to the Board, you 
v.'ill observe that there have been 1,923 primary vaccinations, 
206 who have been re-vaccinated, making a total of 2,129, and 
the very incredible number of 9,072, who have refused their 
services. 

If this loathsome disease (the Small Pox) should ever get a 
fast hold in our city, the refusal to comply with the humane pro- 
visions of the authorities would be most terribly and disastrously 
felt by those who not only neglect, but refuse to accept the pro- 
tection which seeks them without price. Upon a subject so 
deeply importflut to all, this inditfereuce is a public calamity. 

I cannot otherwise than press upon your consideration, the 
suggestion of the Board to make such provisions, as may be 
necessar}^, to meet the pestilence, should we be threatened with 
its presence again. All experience shows how sudden and capri- 
cious are its assaults, passing harmlessly over one section of the 
country, only to revisit it again with increased violence and 
fatality. 

In mj former message, I respectfully called your attention to 
the land attached to the Marine Hospital. The subject is again 
alluded to by the Board of Health. Further reflection has con- 
firmed my former opinion, that a very moderate outlay for agri- 
cultural purposes would very considerably lessen the expenses of 
the institution, and leave the quarantine fund a revenue to the 
cit^^ 

A defect in the ordinance for cleaning the streets by contract, 
appears to have given tlie Board a great deal of annoyance and 



COLONEL ELIJAH STAXSBURY. 175 

trouble. I would respectfully suggest an alteration in conformity 
■with the recommendation of the Board. 

A circular from the Board of Health of Philadelphia, to the 
Board of this cit}'-, is herewith presented. It relates to the policy 
of a joint committee, for the purpose of pressing upon Congress 
the passage of a law, imposing a tax upon foreigners. I submit 
the subject to your judgment and action. In taking leave of this 
report of the Board of Health, I cannot but feel that the corpo- 
ration and the public owe a deep obligation to the gentlemen 
composing the Board, for the efficient and faithful manner with 
which they discharged their most responsible duties, at a season 
of general alarm and fearful apprehension. 

The accompanying report of the Commissioners of Public 
Schools is full of deep interest, and exhibits the continued pros- 
perity of this noble institution. So much has been said, and so 
well said upon this subject, that to add more would almost seem 
a matter of supererogation, but the success which has distin- 
guished the advocates of a general and comprehensive system of 
education, in our city should not be concealed. Other portions of 
our State should know and feel the result of our experience and 
example. In our community this general system, oflTering light to 
all, has triumphed over ever}^ opposition. It is now without an 
avowed enemy, and acknowledged as our proudest achievement. 
No mind can appreciate its blessings ; conduct may be destiny, but 
how much does education influence conduct ; it is the vitality of 
our free institutions, and the unseen but deeply felt power which 
will perpetuate this Union forever ; as it politically enlightens 
and strengthens, so does it individually add to the happiness and 
usefulness of every member of society. Education exalts the 
humble, and dignifies the exalted. It stimulates the poor man to 
honorable ambition, protects the property of the rich, and the 
rights of all ; it promotes morals, purifies society, and in the 
advancement of civilization, is only subordinate to religion. A 
brief time ago, this system was in its infancy, now it is strong in 
our midst, and gains strength with each day's experience. To an 
institution bearing such fruit, I hardly deem it necessary to ask 
your continued fostering care and protection. 

The services of the gentlemen who compose the Board, are 
entirely gratuitous, they have no reward but the conviction of 



176 



MEMOIRS OF 



doing great public good. Their charge is one of profound mag- 
nitude and labor, but to them it appears to be a labor of love. 
It is, however, the duty of the Council lo carefully weigh their 
suggestions, but above all, to make ample provisions for the sup- 
port of the schools, and thereby protect them against the pecu- 
niary embarrassments with which, I regret to say, they have had: 
at times to contend. 1 

The accompanying report of the City Commissioner gives? 
detailed information of the action of that important branch of! 
the public service. The various resolutions of the Council are 
specified, noted where carried into effect, and when prevented by 
uncontrollable impediments, the causes are stated Among the 
latter is Resolution No. 19, relating to the tunnelling of Harford 
run. It appears from the report that proposals were invited and 
received, but none came within the limits of the appropriation 
made by the Council for that purpose. This is deeply to be re- 
greted, and I hope will be corrected by ample provision at the 
present session. The necessity for deepening the bed of the run 
at certain points, set forth in the report, will add something to 
the cost. The tunnelling of this run, in my judgment, is a case 
of public necessit3\ Our cit}^ is disgraced by no similar nuisance, 
and its completion, it would seem to me, is demanded as an act of 
public justice. It is equally as dangerous as offensive to our citi- 
z;ens, and the accidents which have occurred are trifling in num- 
ber to the miraculous escapes which have been made, from its 
central and open exposure. This view would be ample to require 
your favorable action, but when we contemplate it as an improve- 
ment, the value it will add to the property at the City Block, as 
well as the surrounding property, and thereby the increase of 
assessment, sound policy urges its completion. You will find in 
the report various suggestions which I conceive wise, and to 
which I most respectfully refer and ask your consideration. 
Among the most important, is the revision of the ordinance 
relating to paving and re-paving of streets, — the necessity of a 
new bridge at Centre street, and also one over Harris' creek at 
Canton, both of which are in a dilapidated state, and not worth 
repairing. I would recommend iron bridges. 

You will observe that new roofing is required over a portion of 
Centre and Lexington markets. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 177 

By reference to the report of the Port "Wardens at the late 
extra session of the Council, you will find that from the indebt- 
edness unpaid in 1848, there was only remaining on the 1st of 
April $6,623.54, in consequence of which the Board were com- 
pelled to discontinue their operations in the harbor for the 
balance of the year, except what was done for private indi- 
viduals, which amounted to $7,363.49. From this circumstance, 
the city dock and many of the public wharves are, by no means, 
in the condition they should be ; but as the whole of the appro- 
priation, which I would recommend to be liberal, will be appli- 
cable to the operations in the harbor, by the expiration of the 
year, I have no doubt, it will be found in a very improved con- 
dition. 

I have for many j^ears labored under the impression that the 
duties of the City Commissioners and Port Wardens should not 
be blended together, and attended to by the same officers. It 
seems to me there is no similarity between the duties of the two. 
I would, therefore, respectfully recommend the appointment of 
one Port Warden, whose duty it shall be to take charge of the 
entire operations of the harbor ; and of two City Commissioners, 
to attend to all the duties belonging to that department. 

The city might be divided into two districts, the Eastern and 
Western, making the dividing line Calvert or Charles streets. 
Such a plan would, in my opinion, very nearly equalize the 
duties of these officers, and separate two modes of operations, 
which should never have been united without an increase of offi- 
cers or salaries. I feel well assured, the alteration referred to 
would work well. I respectfully invite your attention to the 
subject. 

I herewith transmit the intelligent report of the Visitors of 
the Jail. The testimony they bear to the capable and efficient 
services of the Warden, his clerk and deputies, is fully confirmed 
by public opinion. The report again, in a very elaborate argu- 
ment and statement of facts, renews the appeal heretofore made 
to the Council, for an improvement in the present condition of 
the Jail. I earnestly pressed the subject in my former communi- 
cation, but so fully have the Visitors covered the whole ground, 
that I cannot now do better than earnestly refer you to their 



178 MEMOIRS OF 

report, and strongly recommend your prompt and favorable 
action. You will be surprised to find, that of the number 
of commitments, two thousand four hundred and twenty-six, , 
during the past year, five hundred and ninety, or nearly one-] 
fourth, have been for debt. It would be a curious, an interesting ; 
investigation, social and political, to ascertain what amount oft 
money was saved to the creditors by these various incarcerations, 
or what extent of heart-rending misery and calamity they en- 
tailed. You have not the power to say, whether this legal con- 
trol of the liberty of the citizen from such a cause, is consistent 
or not with our boasted progress of civilization, whether it is 
absolutely necessary to the public good, or how acceptably this 
community could dispense with the law of imprisonment for 
debt ; but you have the power to meliorate the condition of the 
victim during his confinement, and I recommend you to exercise 
that power. The report informs you that the existing condition 
of the Jail is unfit for the felon, how much more so then for the 
man, whose only crime in nine cases out of ten, is misadventure 
or misfortune. I am in favor of the most rigid economy ; it has 
been the practice of my life, but there are reformations called for 
at times, which to neglect, is public discredit, and the present 
condition of the Jail, as set forth in the report, is one of them. 

The report of the City Collector, which you herewith receive, 
aftbrds reasons for just pride and congratulation. In my former 
message, I took great pleasure in expressing satisfaction at the 
promptness Avith which our citizens and the late Collector had 
mutually discharged their dut}'". It is again my privilege and 
gratification to announce, that during the past year the sum of 
$690,017.87 has been collected and paid to the Kegister of the 
city, being an excess of $61,452.80 over the past or any previous 
year. When we take into consideration the fact that the levy of 
1849 was seven cents in the $100 less than in the year 1848, it 
speaks trumpet-tongued in favor, not only of the patriotism of 
our citizens, but the zeal, capacity and efiiciency Avith which the 
present incumbent and the gentlemen connected with this depart- 
ment have discharged their onerous and important duties. 

The existing laws regulating various fire companies have exer- 
cised a most salutary inflnenoe. It is to be hoped, also, that a 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 179 

returning sense of propriety upon the part of those refractory 
elements, which more or less surround every company, may have 
to some extent, influenced a more proper and peaceful course. 
The ordinances relating to districting the fire companies, I have 
and shall continue most rigidly to enforce upon every necessary 
occasion. All other considerations must yield to the security of 
puhlic peace and quiet ; nor do I feel more gratified at any other 
result, than the general good order which has prevailed through- 
out the city for the last six months, equal, all things considered, 
to any period of our corporate history. 

Of the firemen proper of Baltimore, no eulogium would be 
high praise. Their disinterestedness, sacrifices and exposure, at 
all times and in all weather, for the protection of our citizens, 
may have a parallel, but if so, is rarely found. The propriety of 
their conduct and their enthusiasm, stimulate them to acts of 
devotion and courage, which has never been surpassed in the 
defence of home and fireside. A class of men who have thus, by 
their conduct, illustrated and adorned the noblest deeds of chiv- 
alry and philanthropy, will, I am sure, always be cherished and 
appreciated by the people and their representatives. But these 
very men are equally embarrassed with the public authorities, by 
another class who seek the excitement and exposure of an alarm 
of fire, to redress private grievances, or satisf}^ some revenge of 
local animosity. They identify themselves with some particular 
company, hover around it, as the outlaw does the camp of the 
patriot, and when the glory of the battle is won, tarnish it with 
some outbreak of violence, discreditable to the city, and disgrace- 
ful to themselves. 

The records of our tribunals show that these riotous scenes arc 
instigated, to a great extent, by youths who have not reached the 
age of manhood — a terrible prospect for the future of their lives. 
Independent of the wrong to themselves and their treason to the 
public peace, they greatly restrict the incalculable benefit of this 
most important and indisjicnsable organization for the public 
good. By compelling the impartial enforcement of every power 
invested in me, with the potential administration of the law, 
these transgressors may be induced to cultivate a better feeling 
by not interrupting the general harmony. 



180 



MEMOIRS OF 



The report of the physician of the Marine Hospital contains 
the gratifying information, that this valuable institution has sup- 
ported itself without any expense to the citizens. Since it has 
been under the charge of the present incumbent, the total num- 
ber of patients admitted to the institution were two hundred and 
sixty-three, of which one hundred and forty were cases of Ship 
Fever, eighty-three of Small Pox, and two of Yellow Fever. Of 
these most malignant and other diseases, two hundred and fifty- 
one were cured, and only twelve died, an evidence of successful 
practice, which perhaps cannot be found in any similar institu- 
tion in the country. The Resident Physician in the discharge of 
his quarantine duty, has boarded five hundred and twenty schoo- 
ners, two hundred and forty-one brigs, one hundred and ninety- 
five barques and ships, making the whole number nine hundred 
and fifty-six, besides collecting and paying over to the Register 
$1,207, making the whole revenue $4,316. A simple enumera- 
tion of the duties performed, is the best commentary upon the 
faithfulness with which this ofiicer has acquitted himself of the 
obligations he owes to the public. 

The annual report of the Trustees of the Alms House exhibits 
fully and satisfactorily^ the condition of that institution. Not- 
withstanding a fatal disease, Asiatic Cholera, prevailed at the 
same a portion of the summer of 1849, and as a consequence, 
involving much extra expense, the cost of supporting the insti- 
tution appears to be less than the average sum required for that 
purpose. 

The levy for the Alms House for the current year must be 
increased beyond the sum generally required, in consequence of 
the inoperation of the Act of Maryland in relation to the arrival 
of foreign passengers at the port of Baltimore, for the better 
understanding of which, I respectfully refer you to the annual 
report of the trustees. 

The report of the Trustees shows that the gentlemen who com- 
pose the Board are fully equal, in every respect, to the very high 
and responsible duties with which they are entrusted. The insti- 
tution has never been under more successful management, and 
the devotion of all connected with it, deserves public commen- 
dation. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 181 

The report of the Appeal Tax Court shows a corrected assess- 
ment for city purposes, for the years 1847, 1848, 1849 and 1850, 
the present year, being $80,237,960, and an increase of $1,985,372 
over the last, as an additional basis of taxation. It also exhibits 
the continued prosperity of the city in the erection of one thou- 
sand eight hundred and ninety-four brick buildings, three hun- 
dred and forty-six of which are exempt from direct taxation. 

Real and per- Real property Personal pro- 

souiil proiierty exempt from perty exempt Total 

liable to direct direct tas. from direct xota . 

tax. tax. 

1847 $67,832,077 $3,820,195 $427,050 $72,079,322 

1848 69,813,922 4,002,035 412,319 74,228,276 

1849 73,609,596 4,235,038 407,954 78,252,588 

1850 75j310,808 4,507,038 420,114 80,237,960 



The Eegister of the city will make his report to the Council, 
in which you will find the financial condition of the city fully 
and satisfactorily exhibited. If we except prevailing opinions in 
reference to dividends from works of internal improvements, in 
which the city has an interest, our monetary affairs, though 
oppressive now, are far from being discouraging for the future. 
At this time, however, we have only to look at the rate of taxa- 
tion, to show the necessity of economy and retrenchment, wher- 
ever it can be exercised compatible with the public interest. The 
following comparison between the years 1848, 1849 and 1850 will 
be gratifying in the particulars they represent, and in nothing 
more than the surplus on the 31st of December, 1849, viz: 
$36,535.28, against a deficit of the previous year of $37,865.52— 
to which may be added the reduced estimate of 50,324.21 for the 
wants of 1850, below that of 1840. 

Amount of receipts from all sources, from January 

1st to December 81st, 1849, inclusive $819,622 89 

Amount of expenditures on all accounts, from Janu- 
ary 1st to December 31st, 1849, inclusive 783,087 61 

Balance in Treasurer December 3 let, 1849..... $36,535 28 



182 MEMOIRS OF 

Estimated wants for 1850 $887,717 88 

" receipts for 1850 436,75157 

Leaving this amount to be provided for by taxation $450,966 31 

Amount required 1849 $501,290 52 

" 1850 450,966 31 

Less this amount than for 1849 $50,824 21 

Income from tonnage and wharfage, 1848 $23,885 24 

" " " " " 1849 26,002 77 

Increase $2,117 58 

Income from market rents, 1848 $18,132 45 

" " " " 1849 18,887 13 

Increase $754 68 



It is not generally known that on Poppleton's plat, the city 
reserved and is entitled to one hundred feet of ground directly 
on the line of the city boundary, for the purpose of making an 
avenue of that width, to surround or encircle the city from water 
to water. Indeed, I believe the wharves were located in lines 
of one hundred feet to correspond with this magnificent plan. 
Charles street is now being paved up to the line of the city boun- 
dary, and York avenue is under contract to the same terminus. 
I have deemed it prudent to call your attention to this subject, as 
one of some interest to the future at least. "Would it not be pru- 
dent to have these lines reestablished, and thus admonish those 
who otherwise might erect improvements upon the ground held 
for the avenue, that if hereafter opened, they would have no 
redress for any loss sustained? The project contemplated three 
public avenues — east, north and west. Broadway street would 
run direct into the eastern portion of the north avenue, and if 
ever successfully carried out, it would be an ornament to our 
city, unrivalled in this country — and why should it not be carried 
out? -Improvements in every direction are rapidly approxima- 
ting to the lines of the city boundary, and all experience has 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 183 

demonstrated, that sucli an undertaking, even if at the cost of 
the property holders themselves, would, in the additional value 
of their property, most amply repay them. At some future, per- 
haps distant period, such an avenue and for miles in extent, 
would be directly through the heart of the city ; whilst in our 
ov/n days its intrinsic claims to command and invite improve- 
ment would attract general attention. If we made but the 
beginning of such an enterprise, which was originated at a very 
considerable cost, posterity would owe us a debt of no ordinary 
gratitude. There are perhaps but few cities in the world, of 
equal size and population, that have so few public squares or 
open avenues, as our own, where the toiling masses can refresh 
or enjoy themselves. With these views, I submit the subject to 
your deliberations, in connection with another that seems to me 
as worthy of your consideration. 

Our city is not only rapidly extending its bounds, but the older 
parts are becoming more densely populated by the occupation of 
every spare space with buildings, chiefly as tenements for the 
laboring classes. As this increases, so must increase the liabili- 
ties to disease in a certain degree. Free circulation of air is as 
necessary to neighborhoods as to individuals, and to both it is 
also just as requisite as wholesome food for securing good health. 
It is then in reference to the future, that I would ask your atten- 
tion to the securing now, while it may be done, some portion 
of the unoccupied ground, remaining of the estate of the late 
Colonel Howard, to be laid out as a public park, for the benefit 
of the thousands of our most useful citizens, whose means and 
employments do not allow them those recreations in the country, 
which may be indulged in by those blessed with better circum- 
stances. It was one of the greatest errors of those, who in the 
earlier age of our city preceded you in municipal legislation, that 
provision was not then made for open public grounds, which then 
might have been procured at moderate rates, and which now 
would have been not only among the highest ornaments of our 
city, but also among the most useful means conducive to the 
health of its population. 

It is not my intention, gentlemen, to do more than to press the 
subject upon your attention. If it only lead to the appointment 



181: MEMOIRS OF 

of a committee, to examine the subject and to make such a report 
as shall provoke the consideration of the matter by our citizens 
generally, it will perhaps be as much as may be asked at the 
present time. Under the present auspicious circumstances, which 
seem to indicate an earlj'- completion of the Baltimore and Ohio 
Kailroad, I may, in common with my fellow-citizens, look for- 
ward with hopes that hitherto none scarceh'^ dared to indulge in, 
but which now seem well authorized, that within five or six years 
at the furthest, we shall be relieved of a large portion of our 
taxes by the certain income from that noble work. Looking for- 
ward to so desirable an event, may we not now be casting about 
for those improvements in our city, which our over-burdened 
condition as to taxes has heretofore repressed ? I think we may 
do so safely, and it is under this feeling that your attention is , 
asked to the subject. 

If I mistake not, the Council passed several resolutions at the 
last session, relative to paving Tort avenue leading to Fort 
McHenry. This avenue was retained by the government in its 
sale of the confiscated lands through which it passes, and now at 
times is almost impassable. It is in constant use by the military 
stationed at the fort ; and it would not only be equitable but 
sound policy for the government to unite with the city and 
the property holders in the expense of making so judicious an 
improvement. I would respectfully suggest the propriety of 
memorializing Congress, in which, I have no doubt, the ofiicers 
stationed at the fort would unite, for an appropriation to com- 
plete an improvement so important, if not necessary, to the 
interest of the government itself. 

By resolution No 88, passed at your last session, provision was 
made for the sale of certain vacant grounds, known as " Bowers' 
lot," as also for an appropriation of $10,000, for the benefit of the 
" House of Kefugo." This act of your body has been most liber- 
ally sustained by the citizens, who, to the numj^er of about two 
hundred and fifty, have subscribed, as I am informed, over 
$20,000. This speaks in most unequivocal terms, in behalf of 
the benevolent object of the institution, as well as of the confi- 
dence placed in the managers, that they will press on in the good 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 185 

he raised by the public spirit and beneficence of our city, that 
will place her in proud equality with her larger and wealthier 
neighbors, I have great pleasure in giving the assurance, that 
the work will be commenced in the spring, provided the General 
Assembly shall second the recommendation of his Excellency, 
the Governor, who, in the warmest terms, has pressed the subject 
upon the special attention of that body, and who, in return, there 
can be but little doubt, will do justice to the claims of so philan- 
thropic an institution. 

By the resolution referred to, it is provided that the proceeds 
of the sale of the lot shall be applied to the purchase of a suitable 
site for the proposed buildings, and tbe balance, if any, after such 
application, shall pass into the treasury of the city. It has been 
suggested to me, that as this balance can only be a comparatively 
small one, it can hardly be felt in defraying the ordinary expen- 
ditures of the city, while on the other hand, it will add materially 
to the amount required for the support of the institution. Judg- 
ing by the cost of similar institutions in New York, Philadelphia, 
Boston and Kochester, it will require for the walling in of the 
premises, and the completion of the buildings, something near 
$50,000. When it is considered that the amount contributed hy 
our citizens on the first appeal in behalf of a similar institution 
some years since, upon the failure of the attempt, became in fact, 
as I am informed, the foundation almost of our present public 
schools, it would certainly seem as no great or unjust draft upon 
the treasury, if the whole amount of the proceeds of the sale be 
appropriated to the use of the " House of Kefuge." 

The income of the past year from ground rents belonging to 
the city, was $7,448.52. I respectfully suggest an inquiry into 
the policy of disposing of all the property owned by the city, 
by sale or permanent lease, as the several leases expire, except 
such as may be thought necessary for the public use. I am 
inclined to the opioion that it would be good policy. Prop- 
erty has advanced in value and will, no doubt, continue to do so, 
but whether to an extent that will reimburse for the loss sustained 
by temporary and limited leases, I conceive exceedingly doubt- 
ful. The disposition I have suggested, would at once make all 
the property available, besides under the control of individual 



186 MEMOIRS OF 

enterpries would soon add considerably to the amount of assess- 
ment, and thus far reduce taxation. 

By the provision of an Ordinance, No. 22, passed and approved 
May 15th, 1847, certain property holders agreed to transfer to 
the city the ground known as Union Square, in the western part 
of the city, upon conditions therein specified. One of these was 
the erection of an ornamental structure over the fountain, from 
which the water from the spring shall be discharged, within three 
years from the date of said ordinance. The grant expires in 1850, 
if this provision of the ordinance is not complied with. It is such 
a subject of universal regret, that oflfers heretofore made to the 
city of a similar description were either refused or neglected, that 
I earnestly hope this one will receive your favorable action. As 
I have heretofore intimated, I conceive there is no better protec- 
tion to the health of our citizens than the ventilation of public 
squares, and in that result alone, an adequate remuneration would 
be found for the expense. The cost of such a structure as would 
be proper to be erected over the fountain, is estimated at $6,030. 

The gentlemen who were appointed at the last session of the 
Council to revise the ordinances of the city, have performed their 
duty. They placed them in my possession, and I herewith trans- 
mit them to you, for your consideration and action. 

A subject to which I would particularly invite your attention, 
is the intellectual and moral condition and habits of a raj^idly 
increasing class of persons of all ages and sexes, who in the guise 
of pauperism, infest our public thoroughfares, and by various 
nefarious practices outrage honesty, decency and humanity. A 
more deplorable evil, or one better calculated to disseminate the 
pernicious fruits of idleness and vice, cannot well be conceived of. 
In European cities these evils have existed for centuries, and are 
probably to be ascribed to ill government, or a density of popula- 
tion exceeding the nation's capacity to employ or support. In 
the United States no such cause exists, and therefore effects, so 
painful and disgusting, can only be attributed to fraud and base- 
ness. These evils, in their enormous depravity, are of very recent 
appearance, but have already grown to a very frightful degree. 
A few years ago, and scarcely a beggar was to be seen, the few 
soliciting alms were generally of an unmistakable character, per- 



CJOLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 187 

sons overtaken by misfortune, and to relieve whose necessities it 
gave the heart pleasure. Now every steamboat landing, every 
railroad depot, the doors of hotels, the post office, places of 
amusement, and our most public streets are literally crowded 
with filth}' vagabonds, not unfrequently strong, healthy and able 
to work, but plainly too lazy even to keep their persons clean. 

It cannot have escaped the notice of the most common observer, 
that many persons of this class, in addition to those who crowd 
the doors of public places, have recently located themselves at 
particular public points throughout our city, under circumstances 
particularly disgusting. Women, thinly clad or wretchedly in 
rags, are seen on cold days exposed to the rain or snow, seated on 
the ground, or steps, or in corners, with one or two children, or 
a child at the breast, imploring relief with features of apparent 
agony. If suffering from disgusting disease or distressing de- 
formity, the deficiency is thrust upon the public view more 
effectually to create sympathy and win reward. These scenes 
ought not to be tolerated — they are not the growth of the United 
States or legitimate offspring of our government or institutions. 
A beneficent God has kindly blessed our land with abundance. 
All who desire to work can easily find employment, if not in the 
cities most certainly in the country ; and those who from disease, 
age, or decrepitude, are unable to work, may find a comfortable 
home at the institution which public beneficence has provided 
for them. Another portion of this class, and who, if it be possi- 
ble, are in a more deplorable condition than the adults, are the 
ragged, dirty children, boys and girls, ranging from five to 
fifteen years of age, who roam about the city in all directions 
openly begging, or under pretext of selling matches or other 
trifles. 

From information, upon which reliance may safely be placed, 
it is to be feared that many of these children are daily driven 
forth by heartless parents, who, regardless of the injury done the 
public and their offspring, live in dissipation upon means thus 
basely acquired. Shocking as it may be to contemplate, there is 
scarcely a doubt that many of these girls are in daily habits of 
prostitution, acquiring thereby means which enable their aban- 
doned parents to live idle and dissdlute lives — the boys under a 



188 MEMOIRS OF 

similar influence constantly perpetrate petty thefts, and both 
grow up a curse to society — the one a courtezan, the other a 
felon. If every thing within the knowledge of the police and 
various magistrates in relation to these children were here stated, 
a fearful amount of startling depravity would have to be detailed. 
I merely refer you to the subject, assuring you that in no way 
can the peace, security and moral welfare of the community be 
more effectually promoted than hj the passage of an ordinance 
making it the imperative duty of the police to arrest and take to 
the Alms House all vagrants engaged in the debasing and per- 
nicious practices referred to — the aged and decrepid to be prop- 
erly nursed — the strong and healthy to be made to work — the 
young to be schooled or bound apprentice to suitable trades. 

There has been presented to the city of Baltimore, by Dr. 
James "VV. Wynne, the Chairman of the Committee of "The 
American Medical Association,'' a report upon public hygiene, 
which is filled with invaluable statistical information, and with 
able suggestions and reflections thereon, in reference to the dis- 
eases, their causes and preventives, in the different cities of the 
Union. I have never met with a more intelligent review of the 
sanator}' regulations of the various populous cities and towns, in 
which our own is embraced, than this work contains. The vast 
amount of practical information collected can perhaps no w^here 
else be found. 

In noticing the improvement in the quiet and good order of 
the city, it would be unjust not to bear testimony to the vigilant, 
faithful and discreet manner with which the police of the cit}-, 
night and day, have discharged their duties. I question if there 
is a city in the world of equal extent, more free from depreda- 
tions of burglars, thieves and similar outlaws, than Baltimore. 
An extensive robbery is of rare occurrance, and still more rare 
when the guilty are not discovered. The expense of our police 
system is much less than that of any other city of equal popula- 
tion. 

I have received the reports of the President and Directors of 
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, and of the Baltimore 
and Susquehanna Railroad Company, which are herewith trans- 
mitted. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 189 

It occurred to me that it would be interesting to the public to 
to have laid before them a condensed statement of the various 
branches of industrj^ and business operations within and con- 
tiguous to our city during the past year. I was myself surprised 
in many instances at their extent and increasing magnitude ; I 
likewise contemplated an additional statistical account of the 
quantity of domestic produce, which sought our market in ISiO. 
To accomplish this I addressed several hundred circulars to gen- 
tlemen who could have imparted the information, but from some 
cause but few answers have been returned. To those from whom 
I have received information, my thanks are due. I lay the same 
before j^ou, but very imperfectly, as some of the articles are only 
inspected at the will of the buyer or seller. It is beyond a doubt, 
that there is no better market in this countrj-, or perhaps any 
other, which affords a more abundant quantity or better quality 
of building materials than ours. From the superior quality of 
our brick, they are sought for from New York, Philadelphia and 
ISTew Orleans. 'Nor is it in this quality of the article of building 
materials alone, that Baltimore excels. In such facilities our city 
is almost without a rival ; and perhaps that cause, in part, may 
account for the fact, that more buildings have been put up here 
the past year, than in the Empire city. New York. In our quar- 
ries of marble and granite, from the foundation stone to the 
shingle, in lime, sand and all other materials, we have at hand 
inexhaustible resources, and to which may be justly added, in 
every department a class of mechanics of taste and skill, who 
preeminently know how to use them. 

The following, therefore, is the Statement I have received of the 
Resources and Products of oxer City and State, — and amount of 
Business centering in the City of Baltimore in varioics BrancJies 
of Trade, during the year 1849. 

VESSELS. 

Seventy-nine built in Baltimore 11,168 tons burden. 

TOBACCO. 

Amount inspected in the city of Baltimore, as re- 
ceived from the several State Tobacco Warehouses 45,435 hhds. 

Shipped in same year ■. 67,454 " 

9* 



190 MEMOIRS OP 

COTTON. 

The six following factories, to whom I addressed circulars, 
furnished the following amounts, received and turned out by 
them. 

Bales recM. t^^ned'oat 

Mount Yernon Cotton Duck Factories 1,981 1,034,047 

United Manufacturing Company 1,000 400,000 

Pocahontas Mills 2,214 810,770 

Powhatan Mills 886 1,054,000 

Ashland Manufacturing Company 1,400 900,000 

Warren Factory ^ 738 960,000 



8,219 5,158,817 
I also addressed circulars to fifteen other Cotton Factories in 
State, but received no returns from them. 

GRAIN, BACON, &C. 

To the following merchants I am indebted for the amount of 

their receipts and sales in the following articles : 

Wheat, Corn, Eye, Oats, 

Bushels. Bushels. Bushels. Bushels 

J. M. Conkey & Co 281,000 288,700 4,100 5,000 

A. L. Boggs & Son 35,000 15,000 

J. & K. Graham 16,000 82,000 913 2,877 

Frederick Shumaker 12,434 7,884 937 1,631 

J. J. & F. Turner 7,324 12,382 5,967 45,783 

Alanson Webb 881 2,339 

Bacon, Lard, 

lbs. lbs. 

Carson, Edes & Co 5,491,985 1,218,375 

Drakely & Fenton 1,816,633 243,329 

WHEAT FLOUR. 

hhds. bbls. halfbbls. 
Amount inspected in the city 750,686 27,667 

RYE FLOUR. 

Amount inspected in the city 8,007 9 

CORN MEAL. 

Amount inspected in the city 428 51,772 2,051 



428 810,465 29,727 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 191 

CLOVER SEED. 

Keceived 28,000 bushels, average price, $4.50 $120,000 

TIMOTHY SEED. 

Eeceived 5,000 buj^hels, at $3 $15,000 

ANTHRACITE COAL. 

Eeceived in the city 70,000 tons. 

BITUMINOUS COAL. 

Eeceived in the city by the Baltimore and Ohio Eail- 

road 71,699 tons. 

AGRICULTURAL LIME. 

Exported 1,000,000 bushels. 

WOOD BURNT LIME. 

Received 220,000 bushels. 

BRICK. 

Amount annually made in the city 67,000,000 bricks. 

MARBLE AND FREESTONE. 

The whole amount quarried, imported and purchased for the 
Baltimore market in the year 1849, may be set down as follows : 

Maryland fine white 18,300 cubic feet. 

" large crj^stal 36,700 " •" 

Eastern marble 5,000 " " 

Italian white 4,800 " '' 

Freestone of all kinds 11,450 " " 

GRANITE. 

Eeceived 50,000 feet. 

COPPER. 

Sales amount in 1849 to $400,000 

PIG IRON. 

Amount produced annually in the State, and centering in the 
city, 55,000 tons, valued at $1,300,000— from thirty-two Blast 
Eurnaces in the State of Maryland. There are twenty-eight 
Eounderies in the city. 
Tons produced annually within the city and its vicinity 89,000 



192 MEMOIRS OF 

CHROME. 

Exported 8,500 tons, 

LUMBER. 

Keceived in the city 80,000,000 feet. 

HIDES. 

Total imported in 1849 227,589 

" " " 1848 186,416 



Increase in 1849 over 1848 41,173 

COFFEE. 

Imported in 1849 205,945 bags. 

^^'^^^- hhds. bbls. 

Imported from the West Indies in 1849 12,590 5,654 

'! " New Orleans 9,851 2,384 



MOLASSES. 



lihds. tierces. bbls. 



Imported from the West Indies in 1849. ..5,833 499 112 

" " :N'ew Orleans 251 11,066 

SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS — DOMESTIC. 

Inspected in 1849 1,300 hhds. 90,000 bbls. 

PORK. 

Inspected from March 1st, 1849, to December 31st, 

1849 17,139 barrels. 

BEEF. 

Inspected from March 1st, 1849, to December 31st, 

1849 4,156 barrels. 

CHEESE. 

Pweceived 3,500,000 pounds, value $262,500 

BUTTER. 

Keceived 2,969,000 pounds, valued at $405,040 

HOGS. 

Eeceived per Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad in 1849.-195,665 Hogs. 

BEEF CATTLE. 

Weighed at the Cattle Scales 25,000 head. 

SALTED riBH. 

Inspeeted 71,041 barrels. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STAKSBURY. 103 

I am indebted to Colonel George P. Kane, Collector of the 
Port, for the following statement of the foreign commerce of 
the Port of Baltimore, for the year 1849. It is gratifying to 
find that it exceeds that of 1848 upwards of two millions of 
dollars. 

Foreign merchandise imported in American vessels... $5,255,218 
" " " Poreig-n " ... 505,941 



Total value of imports, year 1849 $5,761,159 

Exports of Domestic produce in American A'cssels $7,049,725 

" " " Foreign " 1,374,401 

Exports of Foreign merchandise in American " 121,470" 

" " " Foreign " 144,084 



Total value of exports, year 1849 $8,689,080 

No. Ves. Tons. Men. 
Entries of American vessels from Foreign 

ports 359 84,620 3,372 

Entries of Foreign vessels from Foreign 

ports 137 27,882 1,24G 

Total entries, year 1849 496 112,502 4,618 

Clearances of American vessels to Foreign 

ports 461 111,026 4,620 

Clearances of Foreign vessels to Foreign 

ports 163 34,523 1,636 



Total clearances, year 1849... 624 145,549 6,256 

In conclusion, gentlemen, our city has shared the unparalleled 
prosperity w^hich has distinguished the progress of our common 
country. If, however, we contemplate our favorable geographi- 
cal position, so universally conceded, we must admit that valuable 
time has been lost. No contest ever existed between independent 
nations, that was marked with more active energy or unceasing 
enterprise, than has influenced the action of the Atlantic cities, 
in their eiforts to secure the immense and increasing trade of the 
great west, and thereby coin a destiny which would ultimately 
make one or the other the commercial depot of the world. For- 



194 



MEMOIRS OF 



tunately this rivalry has been a national and a generous one, 
where no party could be greatly benefitted without conferring 
some advantage upon all. If adventitious circumstances, great 
ascendancy in private, and the concentration of foreign capital, 
has given the lead to other points, we have the comfort to know, 
that far behind in the start, our progress has been rapidly upward 
and onward, each succeeding year adding to the wealth, popula- 
tion, power and distinction of our city. In turning then from 
the past or present to the future, we may reasonably hope, with 
the continuation of our great works of internal improvements, 
the developments which they cannot fail to realize, with the 
shortest and most direct ronte to the west, the attention of our 
capitalists must be attracted to this point, thus adding all that is 
necessary to make Baltimore no common rival to any other city 
in the Union. It is scarcely necessary to add, how much pleasure 
it will give me to cooperate with you in any action which will 
promote the happiness, welfare and prosperity of our common 
constituency. Respectfully submitted, 

ELIJAH STANSBURY, Mayor. 

Register's Statement. 

Register's Statement of the condition of the City Treasury on the 

31st day of December, 1849^ — and of the estimated receipts and 

'payments for the year 1850. 

City Register's Office, ") 
Baltimore, Jannary 21st, 1850. | 
Gentlemen of the First and 

Second Branches of the City Council. 

In compliance with his duty, as prescribed by Ordinance Ko. 
21 of 1840, the City Register herewith presents his annual state- 
ment of the condition of the Treasury. 

The receipts into the Treasury during the year 1849 were 
$819,622.89. The payments for the same term were $783,087.61, 
including in this amount a balance of $37,865.52 against the 
Treasury on the 81st of December, 1848. 

By the above figures it will be seen that on the 31st of Decem- 
ber, 1849, there appears a balance to the credit of the Treasury 
of $36,535,28, which sum, however, is subject to the following 
liabilities, payable on the first day of January, 1850, viz : 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 195 

One quarter's interest on City Stock Debt for other 
than Court House and Internal Improvement 
accounts $5,845 24 

One quarter's interest on City Stock Debt for Inter- 
nal Improvements 72,323 23 

Appropriations unpaid, moneys received on special 

taxes, &c., as detailed in the accompanying tables 53,958 64 

$132,127 11 
From which take the above Credit of. 36 535 28 

$95,591 83 

Now, in comparison with the condition of the Treasury at the 
commencement of the last fiscal year, the figures will stand thus : 
Liabilities on the 1st of January, 1849.. $100,848 28 
Add balance to debit of the Treasur\^, 

3.1st of December, 2848 37,865 52 

$138,713 80 

Liabilities on 1st of January, 1850, as above 95,591 83 

$43,121 97 

Although the above sum, ($43,121.97,) is in fact a deficit, still 
it shows a much improved state of the finances, owing, among 
other causes, chiefly to the circumstance that the net amount of 
abatements, — (say $579,377,) as will be seen by reference to the 
accompanying report of the Appeal Tax Court, (D,) — is much 
less than during the year 1848, and of course so far maintaining 
the basis of the levy of 1849. 

The demands upon the Treasury for the year 1850 will be 
something less than were required for 1849 ; a result arising 
from a diminished estimate of many items of expenditure, while 
the estimated receipts from several sources of revenue are in 
some degree increased. By a review of the accompanying state- 
ment, the amount required to be levied for, will be shown to be 
as follows : 
Existing claims, estimated requisitions of the several 

Departments, &c $887,717 88 

Estimated receipts 436,751 57 

To be provided for by tax $450 966 81 



196 



MEMOIRS OF 



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COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 197 

As in former years, I have based the foregoing upon the sup- 
position that no appropriations will be made other than those 
ordinarily required, or which are called for by existing ordi- 
nances, as well as upon what I am authorized by the formal 
requisitions of the several departments to designate as necessary 
for their service ; and secondly, on what past experience in the 
collection of the taxes has pretty satisfactorily established, viz., 
that no more than six-tenths of the tax can be safely estimated as 
collectable during the year for which it was levied. If this rate 
be exceeded, it is only by a fraction scarcely appreciable in an 
available calculation. 

As the subject is deserving of notice, I may be permitted to say 
a few Vv'ords in reference to one item in the foregoing table. The 
rate marked as required for the internal improvement tax is forty- 
eight cents, while the amount of the whole requisition within the 
limits of direct taxation, is ninety-six and three-fourth cents on 
the one hundred dollars. From a recent public document I learn 
that the rate of taxation in the following named cities is thus : 

:N'ew York 118.82 on the 100 dollars. 

Philadelphia proper 156 " 100 " 

Boston 65 " 100 " 

Baltimore, 1849 93 " ICO " 

In Philadelphia, it is right to state, that the taxes are assessed 
on real estate onl}^, for city purposes, and in New York, I think, 
the State tax is included in the above rate. 

Now, from the rate of taxation estimated to be required for all 
purposes, as above, (96| cents,) deduct the rate appropriated to 
internal improvements, (48 cents,) and it will be seen that for 
our municipal purposes proper, Baltimore sustains herself by a 
much less proportionate sum than either of the other named 
cities. It is with much gratification that our citizens may now 
look forward to a consumation which, within a very few years, 
must lead permanently to the abatement of this large item in our 
annual levy. No one, except the most skeptical, can give a due 
consideration to the very practical report of the President of the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company without arriving at the 
conclusion that the western terminus of this road mav be reached 



193 MEMOIRS OF 

within from four to six years. With such an event, and the 
increased revenue which must necessarily he a result of the com- 
pletion of this great work, our citizens may anticipate an early 
exemption from a burden which now makes up one-half of the 
amount of city taxes. "With the arrival of that day, Baltimore 
so relieved and the present system of close restriction in her 
municipal expenditures continued, she will become one of the 
most desirable locations for the investment of capital. The 
reality cannot be far distant. Its foreshadows are already cast 
before us, and irresistahly lead to the most grateful assurances of 
unexampled vigor, growth and wealth for our favored city. 

By reference to the note of the Appeal Tax Court, D, an item 
is brought under notice, that seems rightfully to be a subject for 
taxation. To invite your attention to the matter, comes within 
the required duty of the Kegister, and it is done with more con- 
fidence from the fact, that the subject has been submitted to a 
legal tribunal, and the citj^'s right sustained. One million of 
dollars of propertj'^ in the form of State stocks would be no light 
addition to the basis of taxation, and proportionately would add 
something to the relief of the tax-payer. The State taxes the city 
stock, and she secures the payment by requiring the Eegister to 
withhold the amount from the interest payable in July. The 
difficulty in regard to the city in making her right available, 
seems to be in her inability to obtain the names of the holders. 

I have received from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com- 
pany eighteen hundred and eleven shares and scrip for one- 
quarter of a share of their stock, being the dividend for 1849, 
accruing in that form, on the stock already held by the city, 
making, with the amount received on same account in 1848, 
three thousand and thirty-six and one-quarter shares. 

In the first item of the annexed statement, there will be noted 
a very marked difference between the figures of the last and of 
preceding years. This difference is owing to the decision of the 
Supreme Court of the United States in regard to what is gener- 
ally known -as the "tax on foreign passengers." The General 
Assembly not being in session, the corrective for the invalidity 
of the existing statute could not then be applied. Measures, 
however, have been taken to remove the difficult}^, which will 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 199 

restore this item to its former service in the support of the for- 
eign poor, and in aid of the charitable purposes of the German 
and Hibernian Societies. 

Respectfully submitted, 

JOHN J. GRAVES, Register. 

Recapitulation. 

For claims against the city and ex- 
penses per estimate $368,374 50 

Expenses of Internal Improvements... 361,616 15 

Expenses of City Court 26,359 46 

Expenses of City Poor 21,435 37 

Expenses of County Court 30,591 25 

Expenses of Public Schools 76,841 15 

Expenses of Highways and Bridges 2,500 00 

$887,717 88 

For estimated receipts from various 
sources, including balance in City 

Treasury, December 31st, 1849 $230,634 22 

For arrears of Internal Improvement 

Tax 134,099 42 

For arrears of City Court Tax 9,142 96 

For arrears of City Poor Tax 7,838 74 

For arrears of County Court Tax 9,924 46 

For arrears of Public School Tax 43,223 36 

For arrears of Highways and Bridges 

Tax 1,897 41 

436,751 57 

Amount of taxes required in 1850 $450,966 31 



Among the established items of expense are the following : 

City Poor. 

Estimated city's proportion of expenses of Alms 

House, per report of Trustees $21,435 37 

Amount forwarded $ 21,435 37 



200 MEMOIRS OF 

Amount brought forward 

Estimated receipts from arrears of Poor 

Tax 7,164 80 

Due from City Treasury, excess of re- 
ceipts over payments 673 94 

7,838 74 

Amount required from City Poor Tax of 1850 $13,596 63 

City Court. 

Due on account of expenses of City 

Court $5,759 46 

Estimated expenses of City Court in- 
cluding salary of Associate Judge.... 20,600 00 

$26,359 46 

Estimated arrears of City Court Tax... 7,816 73 
Due from City Treasury, excess of re- 
ceipts over payments 1,326 23 

9,142 96 

Amount required from City Court Tax 
of 1850 



County Court, &c. 

Due on account of Baltimore County 
Court, and Judges and Clerks of 
Election $7,770 00 

Estimated city's proportion of expenses 

of Baltimore County Court for 1850.. 5,120 00 

Estimated city's proportion of expenses 

of Orphan's Court 3,500 00 

Due on account of criminal cases re- 
moved to Anne Arundel County Court 200 00 

Due on account of case of John Price, 1,220 00 

Eor Interest and Sinking Eund on 

Court House Stock Debt 3,281 25 

$21,091 25 

Amount forwarded $21,091 25 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUllY. 201 

Amount brought forward $21,091 25 

Estimated expenses of repairs of Court 

House, keeper's salary, fuel, «fec 1,220 00 

Estimated expenses of the Jail, exclu- 
sive of fees, &c • 5,000 00 

Estimated expenses of Coroner's In- 
quests 800 CO 

Estimated expenses of State Elections.. 420 00 

For Colonization Tax 1,9G0 00 

Eor Register, per ordinance 100 00 

$30,591 25 

Estimated receipts from arrears of 

County Court Tax 8,109 48 

Due from City Treasury, excess of re- 
ceipts over payments 1,754 98 

9,924 46 

Amount required from County Tax of 1850 $20,066 79 



Public Schools. 

Estimated salaries of teachers $40,000 00 

Estimated rent and ground rent 3,200 00 

Estimated books and stationery 8,500 00 

Estimated bills outstanding 5,000 00 

Estimated bills payable 7,286,17 

Estimated loan for erection of School 

No. 10 5,954 00 

Estimated general and school incidentals 6,000 00 

Salaries of Treasurer and Secretary 900 00 

Due City Treasury, excess of payments 

over receipts 98 

Balance in hands of School Treasurer.. 6,417 36 

Estimated fees of tuition 20,000 00 

Estimated City's part of State School 

Fund 5,510 00 

Estimated arrears of School Tax .'. 11,296 00 



(6,841 15 



$43,223 36 



Amount required from School Tux of 1850 S33,617 79 



202 MEMOIRS OP 



CHAPTER XYl. 

Colonel Stansbury's Retirement from Public Life — 
Flood of 1868. 

At the expiration of his official term, Mayor Staiis- 
bury for the third time retired from public to private 
life, being then in his fifty-ninth year. As already 
stated, he retired from business in his seventy-second 
year. And while we entertain a grateful conviction 
that his wise, firm and patriotic administration has 
been signally conducive to the present prosperity of 
Baltimore, we cannot forbear expressing our regret 
that we have not more men of the same stamp among 
us in public office. His obedience* to the voice of duty 
and his country, affi^rds proof of the devotedness of 
his zeal in his country's service and an earnest of the 
patriotism and success which have charaterized his 
military, civil and public life. He is now, at this 
time of writing, (1874,) in his eighty-third year, 
closing the remnant of his well-spent days in his pres- 
ent peaceful abode with his amiable consort, who has 
been his faithful companion through the journey of 
life for fifty-six years. 

Colonel Stansbury has lived through all the admin- 
istrations of this Government, up to the present one, 
the illustrious Washington having finished his first 
term in the third year of Colonel Stansbury's birth, 
1793. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 203 

Flood OF 1868. 

Having among the leading local events •which oc- 
curred in Colonel Stansbury's time, referred to the 
three great floods of 178G, 1817 and 1837, we think it 
but proper to refer briefly to the one of 1868. 

Friday, the 24th of July, 1868, will never be for- 
gotten in Baltimore and vicinity. The flood of 1837 
surpassed all before it in destruction of life and prop- 
erty — but the flood of 1868 was still more destructive 
in every respect. The pen is inadequate to describe 
the scenes of death and destruction with which our 
beautiful Monumental City and parts immediately ad- 
jacent had been overwhelmed. 

There was nothing unusual to herald this untoward 
event. We had a rain the previous Sabbath night, 
but it had come almost as gentle as the evening dews. 
There were occasionally heavy claps of thunder and 
vivid flashes of lightning ; but when they passed over 
us, the showers descended with a calmness and beauty 
that fell on the thirsty earth like refreshing slumbers 
on weary sleepers. But, alas ! It was widely different 
with this terrific flood of the following Friday. It 
came in the noon of the day, with scarcely a dark 
cloud in the sky, without a single loud shock of thun- 
der, and scarcely a solitary blaze of lightning. The 
torrents that descended were heavy and prolonged, but 
not more so than had been common for years in this 
latitude. IS'othing unusual was anticipated. The 
writer was engaged preparing an article for a paper" 
which he was then editing, when one of the attaches 



^04 MEMOIRS OF 

came in and said^ Jones's Falls was rising rapidly and 
flooding adjacent streets. He immediately proceeded 
to the scene, and found Holliday street converted into 
a turbulent stream some ten feet high, so sudden was 
the rush and overflowing of the water. An hour or 
two before that, the busy people on the banks of the 
Patapsco and Jones's Falls pursued their daily avoca- 
tions, or rested after their early noon-day meal. They 
watched the descending rain, thought it was very 
heavy, spoke to one another of its abundance ; that 
w^as all ! But after that, how changed the quiet scene ! 
The river and Falls both rose at once, without a mo- 
ment's warning, overflowed their banks, and came 
rushing down in mighty muddy cataracts, bearing all 
before them ! On, on they swept, and earth, and trees, 
and houses, and factories, and bridges, and stores, and 
churches, and public halls soon felt the tremendous 
shock as they had never felt it before. The resistless 
flood swept every thing moveable within its reach into 
the whirling torrent; streets were flooded, the cellars 
of them all overflowed, stocks of goods of almost all 
kinds destroyed, and thousands of dollars worth of 
property borne down to the basin of the Patapsco. 
Tens of thousands of peoj^le were at once thrown into 
the most appalling consternation ever known among 
us. The roaring of the floods, the crashing of houses, 
the shouts and shrieks of the aflPrighted people, the 
overflowing of streets, the passage to and fro of boats 
in unwonted places — above all, and most of all, the 
shocking loss of human life in the very presence of 
friends, who were utterly powerless to help them — 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 205 

had united to prevSent a gloomy picture which the citi- 
zens of Baltimore, Howard and Frederick counties, in 
Maryland, who saw it, will never cease to remember. 
All around us the devastation was visible. The Balti- 
more and Ohio, and Northern Central Railroads, had 
suffered severely. Large embankments for miles in 
extent, w^ith contiguous trees and rocks, had been swept 
down by the raging waters on the tracks. Travel and 
transportation were impeded, and the 'market house 
under Maryland Institute, much frequented, was ren- 
dered desolate. O, sad indeed were these passing days 
and nights to many a bereaved heart. No less than 
fifty persons perished by this flood. The following 
touching incident, among many others, occurred at 
Ellicott City, Howard county, Maryland. 

The Horrors Increasing. 
* * * This row of houses numbered fourteen or fifteen, and with the 
exception of a twelve foot alley, next to Dr. Owings' house, stood 
close together. They were nearly all of one height, and the roofs 
quite flat. After the first of these buildings fell, the inmates 
began to appear on the roof. The house of Dr. Owings was of 
wood, and it soon floated off its foundation across the alley ad- 
joining, and against the next house, which was of stone. The 
family consisted of Mrs. Owings and six children, and a colored 
man and woman, servants. William, the colored man, was seen 
cutting a hole through the roof with an ax, and soon appeared 
with the youngest child of the Doctor in his arms. He then 
helped Mrs. Owings through and the other children, and con- 
veyed them on to the roof of the next house, and seemed to 
watch over their safety and comfort in this hour of peril, with a 
devotion that will do honor to his memory so long as those who 
witnessed his self-sacrificing labor shall live. Everybody is 
speaking of the bravery and devotion of Dr. Owings' man 
William, thus thrown in a moment as. the only human hand on 
10 



206 MEMOIES OF 

which a mother and children could rely in the hour of peril. 
His efforts were, however, altogether in vain, hut he stood man- 
fully by his trust to the last, and nobly jdelded up his life with- 
out making any effort to seek his own personal safety. With one 
of the younger children in his arms, he went down with mother 
and little ones around him in the boiling and raging current. A 
party of young men stationed on the Patapsco Mills bridge, with 
ropes, endeavoring to save those who might be able to swim, 
report having seen Mrs. Owings on the surface of the water, 
apparently swimming with one hand, and endeavoring to sustain 
her youngest child with the other, but she soon sank to rise no 
more, and was carried off in the torrent. 

We would here refer to a freak in political life that 
sometimes will occur amongst the best and most honest 
of men. In 1848 — same year Colonel Stansbury was 
elected Mayor — Mr. Charles F. Cloud was the suc- 
cessful Democratic nominee for Sheriif ; Mr. George 
P. Kane the Whig rival candidate. In 1871, Mr. 
George P. Kane was the successful Democratic nominee 
for same office, having been elected by a very large 
majority. This only demonstrates the liberal spirit 
of true Democracy. 

Colonel Stansbury, has by the Providence of God, 
been permitted to see his old and tried friend Joshua 
Vansant, who held office under the Colonel, elected in 
1871 Mayor of Baltimore, and reelected, 1873. 

Note.— On the 5th of October, 1786, there was a great flood, the current of 
Jones" Falls being met by the tide, the water overflowed the Centre Market 
space and nearly all the made ground and wharves. John Boyce, E?q., lost 
his life in attempting to ford the Falls below what was then known as Han. 
son's, and aftcrwanls as Keller's milldam; all the bridges, which were 
wooden ones, being carried away, and much property and merchandise 
lost or damaged. Baltimore street bridge was afterwards rebuilt by Mr. 
Jacob Small, Sr., of wood, in one arch of a segment of a circle, ninety feet 
span— the others in the usual way. Population at this time was about 31,000. 

On the 91 h of August, 1817, the wooden hridges on Bath and Water streets 
were floated against the stone ones on Gay and Pratt streets, which were 
considerably injured by the obstructions to tlie passage of the water, and 
the Centre market was again overflowed, inflicting much damage. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY 



207 



As a matter of reference we give the following : 



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208 



MEJIOIRS OF 



National Debt. 
End of "Washington's 1st term, 1793, $ 80,352,630 



2( 


1 " 


1797, 


82,064,479 


John Adams' 




1801, 


82,038,050 


Jefferson's 1st 




1805, 


82,312,150 


2d 




1809, 


57,023,192 


Madison's 1st 




1813, 


59,962,827? War from '12 
123,491,965 5" to Dec, '14. 


2d 




1817, 


James Monroe's 


1st" 


1821, 


89,987,427 


11 11 


2d" 


1825, 


83,788,432 


J. Q. Adams' 




1829, 


59,421,413 


Jackson's 1st 




1833, 


1,875,312 


'' 2d 








Van Buren's 




1841, 


6,488,784 


Harrison-Tyler 


s " 


1845, 


17,093,794 


Polk's 




1849, 


64,704,593-Mexican War 


Taylor-Fillmore's " 


1853, 


67,340,620 


Pierce's 




1857, 


29,060,306 


Buchanan's 




1861, 


90,867,820 


Lincoln's 1st 




1865, 


2,682,293,026 


Johnson's 




1869, 


2,489,002,480 


Grant's 




1872, 


2 200,450,870 




iMMIGRATIOUf. 



Immigration from 1820 to 1860, grand total, 7,855,015 ; exclu- 
sive of African birth and Immigration from Canada — about 
9,000,000 in all. 



Chief Justices. 

John Jay, John Eutledge, Oliver Ellsworth, John Marshall, 
Roger B. Taney, Salmon P. Chase, Morrison R. "Waite, 1874. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 209 

CHAPTEK XYII. 

Colonel Stansbury's connection with Freemasons, 
Odd Fellows and other Secret Associations. 

In early years, having formed a favorable opinion of 
Freemasonry, he determined to join the order when he 
reached his majority. In 1814, he made application 
to Warren Lodge, No. 51, through a friend who was a 
Mason, and after the customary forms he was unani- 
mously elected and afterwards initiated as an Appren- 
tice Mason, receiving all the explanations, instructions 
and charges that were necessary. However favorable 
may have been his opinions, based upon mere specula- 
tion, before he identified himself with the Order, yet, 
his most sanguine expectations were more than realized 
when he entered the mystic circle. To use his own 
language : ^' Such were the grandeur and sublimity of 
the surroundings, blended with the solemn and impos- 
ins: forms, that he seemed to have been removed from 
the ordinary sphere of life to another and a better 
one.'' He became a Mason a few weeks before the 
battle of North Point, receiving the three degrees, viz : 
Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Mai^ter Mason 
in eight days, which was regarded as an unusually 
short time, owing perhaps to the existence of the war. 
The further he progressed in the Order (as it opens a 
wide field of some thirty-two degrees) the more the 
usefulness and beauties of the Order were developed, 
only increasing his pleasure and admiration as he 
advanced, passing from Past Master to Mark Master, 



210 MEMOIRS OF 

Select Master, then to Most Excellent Master, unfold- 
ing great beauty and sublimity, displaying harmony 
blended with ingenuity; advancing still further he 
applied for and received the degree of ^' Holy Royal 
Arch Mason,'^ which latter is generally considered the 
cap stone of Ancient York Masonry, and that it is 
only known to Royal Arch Masons that that degree 
brings to light hidden mysteries that had been buried 
for thousands of years, and perhaps would never have 
been known but for that Order; and no one can 
become the recipient of that degree without being 
solemnly impressed that the revelation is truly a grand 
and sublime one. At this point General Freemasonry, 
seems to stop. The Jews, Gentiles and all persons 
believing in a God and acknowledging the Holy Bible 
to be the rule and guide of their faith, and at the 
same time bearing the tongue of good report — being 
honest, sober, industrious and faithful, are eligible to 
receive the foregoing degrees. From thence com- 
mences "Christian Masonry." Colonel Stansbury still 
went forward, applying to Commandary No. 2, Knight 
Templars for the first " Christian " degree. None 
can receive this degree unless he be of unblemished 
character, and believes in the Holy Trinity. After 
undergoing the usual examination he is received into 
membership and given the proper explanations and 
instructions. Colonel Stansbury pronounces this as 
the most awfully grand and solemn ceremony that 
could possibly be imagined. At the same time the 
degree of the Holy Order of St. John at Jerusalem 
was conferred upon him. The foregoing being all the 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBDRY. 211 

degrees that regularly constituted Lodges in Maryland 
are authorized to confer. Over all the Orders of both 
Masonry and Odd Fellowship he has had the honor of 
presiding as Chief Officer. He cherishes for Free- 
masonry the warmest admiration, regarding it as the 
noblest temporal institution, in all its moral bearings, 
ever devised by man. At one time in his long and 
useful life he belonged to no less than six different 
secret associations, of the workings of which he ac- 
quired a practical knowledge, viz: Masons, Odd Fel- 
lows, Druids, Ked Men, Sons of Freedom and Sons of 
Temperance. All of them being beneficial associations, 
accomplishing a great deal of good by furnishing relief 
to their members while laboring under affliction ; and 
in case of death protecting their widows and orphans 
from penury and want. Masonry was always his pre- 
ference and next to that Odd Fellowship, which latter 
he concedes extends more relief to its members in a 
pecuniary point of view. He was a member of Wash- 
ington Lodge, No. 1, the first Lodge organized in the 
country, and continues to this time (1874) much the 
largest in numbers. He served through all the minor 
or subordinate offices necessary to make him eligible to 
higher advancement, having been elected Noble Grand 
and also Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of 
Maryland, I. O. O. F. On occasion of illness, at one 
time in his life, he was entitled to thirty dollars each 
week for benefits, and during his membership he had 
a great deal of affliction, yet to his noble generosity, 
and we do fervently trust, to his perpetual remem- 
brance, be it ever said he never allowed himself to 
draw a single cent, feeling that he did not require it. 



212 



MEMOIRS OF 



although he had paid thousands of dollars into the 
treasury of the different associations before named. 

During 1774, 1775, 1776, the State of Maryland 
had no Governor, but its affairs were managed by a 
Convention and Council of Safety. 

The first Governor of Maryland recognized under 
" State Govei-nment/' was Thomas Johnson, Esq., who 
took his seat in 1777. His successors, up to 1791, 
were as follows: 



1779. Thomas Sim Lee, 
1782. William Paca, 
1785. TVm. Smalhvood, 



1788. John Eager Howard, 
1791. Geo. Plater. 



The first Governor elected after the birth of Mr. 
Stansbury was Thomas Sim Lee, who assumed his 
office 1792, followed by the annexed running up to 
the present year, 1874: 

1792. Thomas Sim Lee, 

1794. John H, Stone, 

1797. John Henry, 

1798. Benjamin Ogle, 
1801. John Francis Mercer, 
1803. Kobert Bowie, 
1806. Robert Wright, 
1809. Edward Lloyd, 

1811. Robert Bowie, 

1812. Levin Winder, 



1832. James Thomas, 
1835. Thomas W^. Yeazy, 
1838. Wm. Grason, 
1841. Erancis Thomas, 
1844. Thomas G. Pratt, 
1847. Philip Francis Thomas, 
1850. E. Lewis Lowe, 
1853. Thos.Watkins Legon, 
1856. Thomas H. Hicks, 
1861. A. W. Bradford, 



1815. Chas.Ridgely, of Hampton, 1864. Thos. Swann, 



1818. Charles Goldsborough, 

1819. Samuel Sprigg, 
1822. Samuel Stevens, Jr., 
1825. Joseph Kent, 

1828. Daniel Martin, 

1829. Thomas King Carroll, 

1830. Daniel Martin, 

1831. George Howard, 



1868. Oden Bowie, 

1872. Wm. Pinkney Whyte, 
the present incumbent, elect- 
ed U. S. Senator, Jan'y 21st, 
1874, by the Legislature, to 
serve six years, from March 
4th, 1875. Succeeded by Hon. 
Jas. B. Groome, of Cecil Co. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 213 

So that Mr. Stansbury.has actually lived under the 
administratiou of no less than thirty-four Governors of 
his native State. John Eager Howard was the first 
Governor after the ratification of the Constitution of 
the United States by the State of Maryland in conven- 
tion. By this it will be seen that Colonel Stansbury 
has lived under all the gubernatorial administrations 
as a State government, except five. 

On the last day of the year 1796, a law was passed 
constituting the town a city, and incorporating the 
inhabitants by the name of "The Mayor and City 
Council of Baltimore.'^ The preamble to the Act read 
as follows, viz : 

" Whereas, it is found by experience that the good order, health 
and safety of large towns and cities cannot be preserved, nor the 
evils and accidents to which they are subject avoided or remedied, 
without an internal power competent to establish a police 
AXD REGULATIONS, fitted to their particular circumstances, wants 
and exigencies." 

The election for city officers under the charter took 
place early in 1797, and resulted as follows: 

James Calhoun, Esq., Mayor. 

Menibers of the First Brayich of the City Council. 

1st ward — James Carey, Ephraim Robinson. 

2d ward— Samuel Owings. Dr. George Buchanan. 

3d ward — Zebulon Hollingsworth, James McCannon. 

4th ward — Hercules Courtenay, David McMachen. 

5th ward— Thomas Hollingsworth, Adam Fonerdon. 

6th ward— Baltzer Schaeffer, Peter Frick. 

7tn ward — James Edwards, Frederick Schaeffer. 

8th ward — James Biays, William Trimble. 

Hercules Courtenay was chosen President of this Branch. 

10* 



214 MEMOIRS OF 

Members of the Second Branch. 
1st ward — William Goodwin. 5th ward — Eobert Gilmor. 

2d ward— Col. Nicholas Kogers. Gth ward — Richard Lawson. 
3d ward — John Merryman. 7th ward — Edward Johnson. 

4th ward — Henry Nicolls. 8th ward;— Job Smith, 

John Merryman was elected the President of this body. 

William Gibson, Esq., Clerk of the County, was 
appointed Treasurer ; Eichard H. Moale, Esq., Regis- 
ter, and John Hopkins, Esq., Collector — but the duties 
of Treasurer and Register were soon after united, Mr. 
Moale, who had been clerk to the Commissioners, 
filling both offices. 

One of the first acts of the Corporation was an 
expression of approbation, gratitude and.^ood wishes 
towards General Washington while passing through 
the city, homeward, after the expiration of his second 
presidential term. The address was dated March 
14th, 1797, of which the following is a copy: 
To George Washington, Esq. 

Sir : To partake of the prosperity arising from your unwearied 
attention to the welfare of your country ; to admire that firmness 
which has never been disconcerted in the greatest difficulties, and 
which has acquired vigor in proportion to the exigency ; to feel 
that honorable ascendency you have obtained in the well founded 
opinion of your fellow-citizens, by a wise administration, and the 
exercise of the virtues of a private life, and to suppress our ad- 
miration and acknowledgment, would be wanting to our own 
individual sensation and the just expectations of those we repre- 
sent. 

Permit, therefore, the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, 
amongst the first exercises of their corporate capacity, to gratify 
themselves and their constituents in the sincere expressions of 
regret for your retirement ; their lively gratitude for your public 
services ; their aflfectionate attachment to your private character ; 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 215 

their heartfelt farewell to your person and family ; and their un- 
ceasing solicitude for your temporal and eternal happiness. In 
behalf of the corporation of the city of Baltimore. 

JAMES CALHOUN, Mayor. 

To which was returned the following reply : 

To the Mayor and Cixr Council of Baltimore. 

Gentlemen : I receive with grateful sensibility the honor of 
your address. 

To me the plaudits of my fellow. citizens for the part I have 
acted in public life, is the highest reward next to the conscious- 
ness of having done my duty to the utmost of my abilities, of 
which my mind is susceptible ; and I pray you to accept my sin- 
cere thanks for the evidence you have now given me, of your 
approbation of my past services — for those regrets which you 
have expressed on the occasion of my retirement to private life, 
and for the affectionate attachment you have declared for my 
person. Let me reciprocate most cordially, all the good wishes 
you have been pleased to extend to me and my family, for our 
temporal and eternal happiness. 

GEOKGE WASHINGTON. 

The following is a list of the Mayors of Baltimore : 

1797. James Calhoun, 1838. Shepard C. Leakin, 

1805. Thorowgood Smith, 1840. Samuel Brady, 

1808. Edward Johnson, 1842. Sol. Hillen, Jr., 

1817. Geo. Stiles, 1844. James O. Law, 

1819. Edward Johnson, elected 1846. Jacob G. Davies, 
for unexpired term of Geo. 1848. Elijah Stansbury, 
Stiles, deceased. 1852 J. H. T. Jerome, 

1820. John Montgomery, 1854. J. Smith Hollins, 
1823. Edward Johnson, 1856. Samuel Hinks, 
1825. John Montgomery, 1858. Thomas Swann, 
1828. Jacob Small, 1860. Geo. Wm. Brown, 
1831. William Steuart, 1862. John Lee Chapman, 
1833. Jesse Hunt, 1868. Bobert T. Banks, 
1835. Samuel Smith, to serve in 1870. Joshua Yansant, 

place of J. Hunt, resigned, 1874. Joshua Yansant. 

1830. Samuel Smith, reelected, 



216 MEMOIRS OF 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

About the " Good Olden Times " — Pioneering for a 
Town Site — Baltimore in Embryo — Jones' Falls a 
Beautiful, Harmless, Meandering Brook — Society 
of Friends — Episcopalians — Jonestown — The First 
Newspaper, &c. 

There is an inventory of the estate of Abraham 
Haldman on the records of the Orphan's Court, taken 
1666, by Messrs. William Hollis and Joseph Fallen, 
deputed by the Governor, as Commissary General, for 
these courts were not established until after the Inde- 
pendence. 

It appears that in 1662, the year after the first 
County Court was held, contracts were made for 
tobacco deliverable at North Point; that Mr. Abra- 
ham Clarke, a shipwright, was amongst the first settlers 
on the north side of the Patapsco river, and that Mr. 
Charles Gorsuch of the Society of Friends, took up 
and patented fifty acres of land on Whetstone Point — 
it being the practice while there were few competitors, 
to take up but little waste land, though the purchase 
money was only four shillings, the quit rent being 
four shillings per annum, and alienation four shil- 
lings sterling per one hundred acres, payable in specie, 
tobacco or other products. 

The next land taken up which lies within the 
present limits of the city, was the glade or bottom, 
on each side of the run now called Harford run, the 
tunnelling of which was commenced during the ad- 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURV. 217 

ministration of Colonel Stansbury. This land was 
taken up by Mr. Alex. Mountenay for two hundred 
acres in the year 1663, and called Mountenay's Neck. 

In 1668, Timber Neck, situated between the heads 
of the middle and north branches of the Patapsco, w^as 
patented for John Howard, and in the same year, that 
tract north of it, upon which the first town of Balti- 
more was laid out, was granted to Mr. Thomas Cole, 
for five hundred and fifty acres, and called Cole's 
Harbor. This tract extended from Mountenay's land, 
westerly, across the north side of the river, one mile, 
and northwardly from the river about half a mile, but 
in the form of a rhomboid, divided into two nearly 
equal parts by the stream afterwards called Jones' 
Falls. Copus' Harbor, Long Island Point, Kemp's 
addition and Parker's Haven on the east; Lunn's lot 
and Chatsworth on the west ; on the south David's 
Fancy, and on the north Salisbury Plains, Darley Hall 
and Gallow Barrow were patented for different persons 
at later periods, and have been added to the town with 
other tracts since. 

It seems that Mr. Cole left an only daughter, who 
became the wife of Mr. Charles Gorsuch, and they sold 
and conveyed separately, in 1679 and 1682, the tract 
called Cole's Harbor to Mr. David Jones, Avho gave 
his name to the stream, and is therefore believed to be 
the first actual settler, having his residence on the 
north side of it near the head of tide water, and where 
the stream was intersected by the great eastern road, 
which lead from the south-west down a drain or gully 
north-west of the Parish Church lot, and crossing the 



218 MEMOIRS OF 

Falls by a ford turned north-easterly, in the direction of 
what is now called French street. Cole's Harbor came 
into the possession of Mr. James Todd, who was the 
step-son of Jones, and also the whole or part of Mounte- 
nay's Neck, Todd having intermarried with the owner's 
daughter, as is supposed. Mr. Todd re-surveyed the 
first tract, and procured a new patent for it, by the 
name of Todd's Range, in 1696, for five hundred and 
ten acres; and in 1702, Todd and wife jointly con- 
veyed one hundred and thirty-five and one-half acres 
of Mountenay's Neck and one hundred and sixty-four 
and one-half acres of Cole's Harbor to Mr. John 
Hurst, who was an inn-keeper, and kept an inn at or 
near Jones' — and the remainder of the latter tract was 
conveyed to Charles Carroll, Esq., agent of the pro- 
prietary. 

Immediately after his purchase, Mr. Hurst mort- 
gaged his three hundred acres of the two tracts, to 
Captain Richard Colegate, one of the County Com- 
missioners, who lived on a creek bearing his name, 
below the north branch of the Patapsco. 

In 1711 Mr. Carroll sold thirty-one acres of his part 
of Cole's Harbor, with a mill seat, to Mr. Jonathan 
Hanson, millwright, who erected a mill near the north- 
west intersection of Holliday and Bath streets. 

In 1726 Mr. Edward Fell, a merchant from Lanca- 
shire, of the Society of Friends, who had settled on 
the east side of the falls took an escheat warrant and 
employed Mr. Richard Gist to survey Cole's Harbor 
or Todd's Range, and the next year purchased the 
right to it of John Gorsuch, son of Charles ; but the 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 219 

sons of Mr. Carroll, then lately deceased, entered a 
caveat, and prevented a new grant. 

About one hundred years after the new patent had 
been granted to Mr. Todd, a very respectable young 
gentleman of the family of Mr. Jones, came from Eng- 
land to inquire for his ancestors^ land, but on learning 
the above circumstances, gave up all further pursuit. 

In 1723 there were five ships in the Patapsco, up 
for freight for London, to which place the trade was 
then carried on extensively, but one of which only is 
said to lay in the Northern Branch, now known as the 
harbor. 

To Mr. John Moale, a merchant from Devonshire, 
who owned the lands and carried on an extensive busi- 
ness near what is generally known as Spring Gardens, 
the inhabitants of the neighborhood applied for ground 
to lay out a town. But he declined. So that what is 
now known as South Baltimore, would have otherwise 
been the first settlement, or original site of our now 
beautiful Monumental City! And ^'yes,'^ perhaps ex- 
claims some consoled city father, "the inevitable Jones' 
Falls to the contrary notwithstanding ! " 

In 1729 an Act was passed by the Legislature enti- 
tled ^'An Act for erecting a town on the north side of 
the PatapscOf in Baltimore county ^ and for laying out 
into lotSj sixty acres of land in and about the j)lace where 
one John Flemming now lives.^^ Flemming was a ten- 
ant of Mr. Carroll, and resided in a house then usually 
called a Quainter, standing on the north bank of Uhler's 
run, near Charles street, and about two hundred feet 
south of German street. By this Act, which was 



220 MEMOIRS OF 

similar to that of 1683 and other town Acts, Balti- 
more was to be a privileged place of landing, loading 
and selling or exchanging goods. Major Thomas 
Tolly, Wm. Hamilton, Wm. Buckner, Dr. George 
Walker, Richard Gist, Dr. George Buchanan, and 
Colonel William -Hammond, were appointed Commis- 
sioners. These Commissioners were appointed for life, 
and were directed to purchase by agreement or obtain 
by valuation of a jury, the above sixty acres of land, 
being part of Cole's Harbor or Todd's Range, which 
they were to lay out in the most convenient manner 
into sixty lots; to be erected into a town to be called 
Baltimore Town, which, as well as the name given to 
the county, was in compliment to the proprietary. 

On the 12th of January, 1730, new style, assisted by 
Mr. Philip Jones, the County Surveyor, the Commis- 
sioners, laid off the town, commencing at a point near 
the north-west intersection of what is now called 
Pratt and Light streets, and running north-westerly, 
along or near Uhler's alley, toward the great eastern 
road and a great gully or drain at or hear Sharp street, 
then across Baltimore street, east of the gully north- 
easterly with the same road, afterwards called the 
Church road, (and now McClellan's alley,) to the 
precipice which overhung the falls, at or near the 
south-west corner of St. Paul street and St. Paul lane, 
then with the bank of that stream, southerly and east- 
erly, various courses into the low grounds, ten perches 
west of Gay street, including the Fish Street Church 
lot, then due south, along the margin of those low 
grounds to the bank on the north side of the river. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 221 

near the south-east corner of General Smith's house, 
which formerly stood on the north side of Exchange 
place, and then by that bank various courses, nearly as 
Water street runs, westerly and southerly to the first 
mentioned point; making thus by its original bounds, 
the form of an ancient lyre, and covering an area of 
several acres less than that of Greenmount Cemetery. 
Within, our town was divided by Long street, now 
Baltimore street, running one hundred and thirty-two 
and three-quarter perches from east to west and four 
perches wide, intersected at right angles by Calvert 
street, then not named; fifty-six and a quarter perches 
from the hill near the falls north, to the river side 
south, also four perches wide and by Forrest street, 
afterwards called Charles street, eighty-nine and a 
quarter perches in the same course and three perches 
wide. There were also six lanes of the width of one 
perch, since widened and called East, South, Second, 
Light, Hanover and Belvidere streets, and three lanes 
of the same width, called Lovely, St. Paul and German 
lanes. The lots containing about an acre each, and 
numbered* one to sixty, commenced on the north side 
of Baltimore street, and running westward, returned 
eastward on the south side. From the small quantity 
of ground originally taken for the town, and from the 
difficulty of extending the town in any direction, as it 
was surrounded by hills, water courses or marshes, it 
is evident that the Commissioners did not anticipate 
either its present commerce or population. The ex- 
pense of extending streets, of building bridges, and of 
levelling hills and filling marshes, to which their sue- 



222 MEMOIRS OF 

cessors have been subjected, and which, unfortunately, 
increased the difficulty of preserving the harbor as 
improvements advanced and soil was loosened, prov- 
ing obstacles scarcely ever experienced in any other 
American city. 

It was in this year Mr. Wm. Fell, ship carpenter, 
brother of Edward, bought of Mr. Lloyd Harris the 
tract on the Point, called Copus' Harbor, and erected 
a mansion on Lancaster street. 

Tlie Acts of the ensuing session of the Legislature, 
furnish another evidence of the zeal of the founders of 
our city. Finding the money appropriated by law 
three years before, for erecting a parish church, was 
not employed, they procured the passage of an Act, 
directing the vestry to purchase a lot for that purpose, 
and building the church in the town, to be called St. 
Paul's church. Lot No. 19 was selected, being the 
most elevated ground on the plat, and part of that on 
which St. Paul's church now stands. The church was 
not finished till 1744. Down to the year 1758, we 
have no knowledge of any other churches for worship 
here, but of the established churches and of tlie Society 
of Friends of which latter it appears a great portion of 
the first settlers of Baltimore county consisted. It was 
a short time before the settlement of the county that 
they first arose, and were now persecuted in England ; 
and from the time of the establishment of the Episco- 
pal church in the province, the right of affirmation and 
other privileges were extended to them and their meet- 
ings; that of worship they and all other Christian sects 
enjoyed from the first planting of the province. In 
this vicinity, there were the families of Gorsuch, Giles, 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 223 

Fell, Hopkins, Mathews, Taylor and others who were 
Friends, for whom the last mentioned gentleman appro- 
priated grounds near the one mile stone, on the Har- 
ford road, where they erected a meeting house and 
worshipped many years. 

In 1732, a new town of ten acres was laid off into 
twenty lots, valued at one hundred and fifty pounds of 
tobacco each, on that part of Cole^s Harbor which was 
first improved, east of the Falls, and where Edward 
Fell kept store ; belonging, it is said in the return of 
the jury, to the orphan children of Richard Colegate, 
and called in some records Jones, but afterwards Jones- 
town, in compliment to one of the former owners of 
the land. 

This town consisted of three streets, or rather of one 
street, with three courses corresponding with the mean- 
ders of the banks of the Falls, from a great gully at 
Pitt street, (now East Fayette street,) to the ford at the 
intersection of the old road where French street com- 
mences, and which was afterwards called Front, Short 
and Jones' street ; on the last of which, at the south- 
west corner of Bridge street, (now Gay,) and the only 
cross street, stood Mr. FelFs store. In consequence of 
which the course of the eastern road, instead of pass- 
inor through French street, was directed into these 
streets by Bridge street, even before the bridge was 
built. The conditions of settlement were similar to 
those of Baltimore] town, except that the possessors 
of lots in this town were to pay the proprietary one 
penny sterling per lot annually. In 1733, improve- 
ments were soon made on the east side of the Falls, by 



224 MEMOIRS OF 

which, and from the early settlement of Cole, Gorsuch 
and Jones, it obtained the name of '^ Old Town/^ The 
communication with the first town being obstructed 
by the passage of the Falls, the fords being the only 
medium, a bridge was soon erected where Gay street 
bridge now is, by the respective inhabitants of the 
towns. 

In 1745, the two towns of Baltimore and Jonestown 
were erected into one town by the name of Baltimore 
town. 

The communication by the bridge, which brought 
the great eastern road from the ford directly through 
both parts of the town, gave value to the intermediate 
grounds, and the whole land and marsh, containing 
twenty-eight acres in all, were purchased of Mr. Carroll 
by Mr. Harrison in 1747 for one hundred and sixty 
pounds sterling! and at the ensuing session an Act 
of Assembly was passed, by which Gay and Frederick, 
and part of Water and Second streets were laid off, 
with eighteen acres of ground. This addition, princi- 
pally on the west side of the Falls, contained all the 
fast land between the eastern limit of the first town 
and the Falls. 

Houskeepers were subject to a fine of ten shillings, 
"if they did not keep ladders for extinguishment of 
fires, or if their chimneys blazed out at top '^ — so the 
law reads ! 

In 1748 Messrs. Leonard and Daniel Barnetz, from 
York, Pennsylvania, erected a brewery on the south- 
west corner of Baltimore and Hanover streets, lately 
replaced by stores. These gentlemen, if not the first, 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 225 

■were among the first of the Germans, or the descend- 
ants of Germans, whose successive emigration from 
that state contributed so essentially to aid the original 
settlers by their capital and industry. 

In 1752 John Moale, Esq., son of the former gen- 
tleman of that name, sketched a i)lan or view of the 
town, which, after corrections by Daniel Bowley, Esq., 
was published 1816 by Mr. Edward J. Coale, and 
exhibits the then state of improvements west of the 
Falls. At that time, (1752,) there were about twenty- 
five houses, four of which were brick. This year 
thirty-two acres were added to the town. 

In the 3faryland Gazette of 27th of February is in- 
serted an advertisement for a schoolmaster " of a good 
sober chariicter, who understands teaching English, 
Writing and Arithmetic, and who," it is added, ^' will 
meet with very good encouragement from the inhabi- 
tants of Baltimore town, if well recommended." 

In the year 1753 a lottery is advertised "for the 
purpose of raising four hundred and fifty pieces of 
eight, or dollars, tow^ards building a public wharf; " 
then follow the names of ten managers — all influential 
citizens. 

1755. The savages, after Braddock's defeat by the 
French and Indians, had passed forts Cumberland and 
Frederick, and got within eighty miles of the town, in 
parties of plunder and murder, causing much alarm. 

1765. Thirty-five acres more were added to the 
town, including the streets called Conway and Barre, 
after those successful opponents of the "Stamp Act" 
in the British Parliament. The First Presbyterian 



226 MEMOIRS OF 

Church was erected this year on East, now Fayette 
street. It was subsequently, (1790,) pulled down, and 
another erected in its place, known as the north-west 
corner of Fayette and North streets. This latter made 
way for the present United States District Court House, 
the same congregation having since erected a magnifi- 
cent church at the corner of Madison street and Park 
avenue. 

1768. A law was passed, authorizing seven com- 
missioners named, " to build a court house and prison 
on the uppermost part of Calvert street next to Jones' 
Falls." The former, built of brick and two stories 
high, with a handsome cupola, stood where the Battle 
Monument now is, until the present court house had 
been erected, (1808.) The latter, the prison, was built 
of stone, two stories high, and stood on the west end 
of the same lot, adjacent to St. Paul's lane, now street, 
until the County Jail was built, (1800,) the latter subse- 
quently giving place to the present substantial structure. 

1769. The first engine for the extinguishment of 
fires was procured by general subscription; the organi- 
zation was known as " The Mechanical Company." — 
This engine cost two hundred and sixty-four dollars ! 

1770. St. Peter's Chapel, (Catholic,) was erected 
on Saratoga street, Messrs. McNabb, Walsh, Stenson, 
Houk, Hiller, Brown, Whelan with the French immi- 
grants and others having obtained the lot from Mr. 
Carroll ; Rev. Mr. Charles Sewell being the first offici- 
ating priest. 

1773. About eighty acres of Plowman, Philpot 
and Fell's lands were added to the town on the east 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 227 

of Jones' Falls. This year the first "Alms House" 
was erected on North Howard street, near Madison 
street. Gay street bridge was rebuilt of wood, and a 
new one erected on Baltimore street, first of stone, 
which gave way when finished, and the centres re- 
moved, and wood substituted. On Water street, for 
the first time, another was built of wood ; to the last 
two, (Baltimore and Water streets,) it was necessary to 
raise causeways from Frederick street across the raarsli. 
August 20, the publication of the first newspaper was 
commenced by Mr. Wm. Goddard of Rhode Island, 
under the title of " Maryland Journal and Baltimore 
Advertiser,'^ from a house in South street, east side, 
near the corner of Baltimore street. Issued once a 
week. Until this time, it was usual to take the papers 
from and send advertisements either to Annapolis or 
Philadelphia. The importance of the trade and inter- 
course had already produced the establishment of a 
line of packets and stages, by head of Elk, to and from 
Philadelphia, and a coffee-house or hotel was opened 
at the Point. The grounds between the town and 
Point, called Philpot's Hill, remained an open com- 
mon. The hills on which the Cathedral and Hospital 
are erected, and the grounds west of Green street, were 
covered with forest trees or small plantations. The 
first Methodist church was erected in Strawberry alley, 
yet standing; and the next year, (1774,) another was 
erected in Lovely lane, now German street. The 
Baptists partially erected their first church on Front 
street. The German Lutherans, with the aid of a lot- 
tery, erected a church in Fish (now Saratoga) street. 



228 MEMOIRS OF 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Baltimore in the Eighteenth Century — The First 
Meeting of Congress in the Town — Preparing for 
War — Washington and Lafayette — Illumination, 

&c., &o. 

In the Ilaryland Journal of the 28th of May, 1774, 
a notice appeared, of which the following is a copy : 
^' On Tuesday last, a few hours after the arrival of an 
express from Philadelphia, relative to the situation of 
affairs at Boston, a number of merchants and respect- 
able mechanics of this town met at the Court House, 
and appointed a committee to correspond with the 
neighboring colonies, as the exigency of the affairs 
may make it occasionally necessary.^' 

The news brought by express had reference to the 
arrival of Governor Gage with a bill for blocking the 
port of Boston, and the retreat of Governor Hutchin- 
son from the town to Fort Williams, now Fort Inde- 
pendence. 

Committees appointed by the several counties, met 
at Annapolis on the 22d of June. By them non-im- 
portation resolutions were adopted, and others passed, 
having reference to collections being made for the relief 
of the Bostonians, and the election of Congressmen. 
The Congress which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of 
September, having adopted similar measures, recom- 
mended the appointment of town and county com- 
mittees throughout the colonies; and on the 12th of 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 229 

Kovcmber a meeting of the freeholders and other 
inhabitants of Baltimore county and town was held 
at the Court House, and appointed committees, &c. 

1775. "Dunlap's Maryland Gazette," weekly, was 
established. The census of the town was taken this 
year : number of houses, five hundred and sixty-four ; 
population, five thousand nine hundred and thirty- 
four. Several members of the German or Dutch Pres- 
byterian Society, attached to the Rev. Wm. Otterbein, 
form a separate religious society which they distinguish 
by the name of the " German Evangelical Reformed,'^ 
purchasing a lot where their present church is, on Con- 
way street. For greater security to the town, a water 
battery was erected at Whetstone Point, Captain N. 
Smith commanding the artillery there. Three mas- 
sive chains of wrought iron, passing through floating 
blocks, were stretched across the river, leaving a small 
passage only on the side next to the fort, the channel 
being protected by sunken vessels. This was after 
April 19th, when the battle of Lexington took place. 
Committees of observation were appointed, and com- 
panies of minute men formed. Congress had recom- 
mended a general fast for the 20th of July, and it was 
kept here by the various religious societies. 

1776. June 5th. Captain Nicholson obtained his 
commission from Congress, being the first officer in 
rank in the United States naval service, and soon after 
took command of the Virginia frigate. October 10th. 
Captain Wm. Hallock was commissioned, commanding 
the Lexington, of sixteen guns. Joshua Barney was 
also commissioned at about the same time. 

11 



230 MEMOIRS OF 

A census was at this time taken of the Point — 
population, eight hundred and twenty-one; one hun- 
dred and forty-six being heads of families or house- 
keepers. 

July 22d. The Declaration of Independence was 
proclaimed at the Court House, at the heads of the 
independent companies and several companies of the 
militia, with the discharge of cannon, and, says the 
editor of the Journal, " with universal acclamations 
for the prosperity of the United States/^ In the 
evening, the town was illuminated, and an effigy of 
the king, which had been paraded through the streets, 
was publicly burned. 

Congress assembled in Baltimore on the 26th of 
December, and occupied Mr. Jacob Fite's house at 
the south-east corner of Baltimore and Liberty streets, 
being then the farthest west, and one of the largest 
structures in town, and was for a long time called 
^'Congress Hall." 

Philadelphia, from whence Congress had adjourned, 
was rescued by the capture of the Hessians at Trenton, 
on the same day, and the attack of the British at 
Princeton, eight days after, so happily planned by 
General Washington, and so boldly executed by the 
troops, including a part of the Maryland Line, under 
his command. The establishment of the new Govern- 
ment was attended by no internal difficulties of im- 
portance. Charles Carroll, Esq., Barrister, of Mount 
Clare, one of the late Convention and Council of 
Safety, was elected a member of the first Senate of 
the State, and the town and county respectively re- 



COLO^'EL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 231 

turned the delegates who had represented them in the 
convention. Mr. Carroll, Barrister, was also appointed 
Chief Justice of the General Court, but did not accept. 

1777. In this year died at an advanced age, at .his 
seat in the county, Cornelius Howard, Esq., who laid 
out that part of the town called Howard's Hill, leav- 
ing three sons, the eldest of whom was Colonel John 
E. Howard, and two daughters. 

1778. Count Pulaski's legion of cavalry and in- 
fantry, raised partly in this State, was organized here. 

It was about this time the following gentlemen 
arrived and settled in Baltimore : Messrs. Richard 
Curson, William Patterson, Robert Gilmor, Charles 
Torrence, Andrew Boyd, Aaron Levering, Henry 
Pay son, Joseph Williams, Peter Frick, Geo. Rein- 
ecker, Michael Diffenderffer, Christopher Raborg, 
John Leypold, Abraham Sitler, Geo. Heide, John 
Shultze, Baltzer Schaeffer and others, who by their 
wealth, credit and enterprize, contributed to revive 
the business of the place. 

1780. Custom House was opened, and Thomas 
Sollers, Esq., appointed Naval Officer, duly author- 
ized to grant registers for vessels here. Hitherto this 
had to be done at Annapolis. There appears to have 
entered in one week in May, one brig, from France, 
one ship, three brigs and five schooners from the West 
Indies. 

The Legislature also made provision for the defence 
of the bay, by equipping one large galley, one sloop or 
schooner, and four large barges, and for recruiting the 
army, besides calling out twelve hundred militia, vol- 



232 MEMOIRS OF 

iinteers, which force was increased tlie following year 
by four galleys and eight barges. The men were to 
be paid at the rate of fifty cents per day, in real money 
by the State, which received directly through a prop .^r 
official the dues in cattle, grain, &c., which were often 
taken by appraisement at this period. The State pro- 
vided for its own troops in the Continental army as 
well as it could, first by new bills of credit to the 
amount of nearly $1,000,000, besides the State's quota 
of Continental, at least $20,000,000 more, which were 
redeemed by new bills, called black money, at forty for 
one. 

Internal improvements received some aid by the 
sales of many valuable lots in town, and estates in 
the neighborhood, confiscated, which were in the first 
instance to be paid for, one-fifth in specie, and four- 
fifths in the black money. Even these bills depreci- 
ated to six or seven for one, but delays attended the 
payments, and the red money created the next year, 
for the redemption of the black, fell at first to two or 
three for one, but soon recovered, and sustained its 
credit, because there was actually a greater amount of 
property sold, than the sum in circulation. Matthew 
Ridley, Esq., of the house of Ridley & Pringle, was 
authorized to borrow, and negociated a loan in Hol- 
land for the use of the State. 

In consequence of the purchase of Fotterall's con- 
fiscated estate near town, a contest arose for the mill 
property, which had been sold by his administrators 
forty years before, and it was decided after ten years 
litigation, that the fee-simple property so disposed of. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 233 

including (lie old mill on Bath street, should go to 
the purchasers under the confiscation act.* 

Of the number of fifty-six debtors to British mer- 
chants or manufacturers who paid the amount of their 
debts into the treasury of the State in depreciated 
money, there were but four or five residents of Bal- 
timore town and county, and these were actuated by 
feelings which their patriotism inspired, rather than a 
desire to avoid payment, for the Baltimore merchants 
generally condemned the measure, and memorialized 
the Legislature against its adoption. Those few who 
had not paid before 1776, paid eventually the full 
amount without the intervention of the courts of jus- 
tice, to enforce the stipulations of the treaty of peace. 
Such were the difficulties attending the transition 
of one currency to another, that seizures of provisions 
for the troops were authorized, but which in ordinary 
times would have been absolutely intolerable; ^nd the 
rate of the levy which had been fixed in the early part 
of the year, at one-fourth of the whole valuation of 
taxable property, was reduced to one and a half per 
cent., with the option of paying in wheat at seven 
shillings and sixpence, tobacco at twenty shillings, &c., 



* Messrs, Hanson & Walker having procured a leasehold estate, by virtue 
of tlie law for appropriating mill seats by valuation, in addition to the fee- 
simple obtained of Mr. Carroll by the former, sold both in 1740 to Mr. Edw'd 
Fotterall, a gentleman from Ireland, who imported the materials and erected 
the first brick house (with freestone corners) in town, being the only dwell- 
ing without a hip roof. It was two stories high, and was regarded as some- 
thing grand in those times. It stood near the north-west intersection of 
Calvert and Chatham streets. Mr, Fotterall returned to Ireland, where he 
died, and the next year his administrators sold the mill properly to Mr. 
William Fell, who had just purchased of Mr. William Carter tiiat tract on the 
Point, adjacent to Copus' Harbor, called Carter's Delight, 



234 MEMOIRS OF 

and a scale of depreciation for the settlement of private 
and public contracts was established on equitable prin- 
ciples. 

1780. General Lincoln had been obliged to sur- 
render Charleston on the 12th of May, and the three 
Southern States seemed to have been entirely lost to 
the Union. General Gates then had command of the 
Southern army, including the troops from Delaware 
and Maryland ; and notwithstanding the determined 
valor of these troops, the disasters at Camden and 
other places where the Maryland line suffered severely, 
rendered it necessary to recall Major-General Gates, 
and place the Department under the command of 
Major-General Nathaniel Green. The new Comman- 
der-in-Chief of the Southern army passed through 
town with General Steuben, November 6th. On the 
27th, Mrs. Washington passed through Batltimore to 
the North and was received with all the honors due 
that noble lady. The ladies of Baltimore raised con- 
tributions for the soldiers going to camp. 

Early in 1781 the joyful news of the success at the 
Cowpens was rendered still more acceptable to the 
people of Baltimore by the conspicuous part Colonel 
Howard had in the victory, and for which he was 
voted by Congress the compliment of a silver medal. 

It was in this year Fell's Prospect was first laid off 
by the commissioners and added to the town on the 
cast, and the eighteen acres of Messrs. Moale and 
Steiger, lying between Bridge, now Gay, and French 
streets, for which authority had been given eight years 
before. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 235 

The weight of flour per barrel was this year fixed at 
the present standard of one hundred and ninety-six 
pounds net, with some other regulations respecting 
that staple. 

Messrs. John Cornthwait, Gerard Hopkins, George 
Mathews, John and David Brown and others, of the 
Society of Friends, who until this year had held their 
meetings at the house on the Harford road, buy a 
spacious lot and build a meeting house between Bal- 
timore and Pitt (now Fayette) streets. 

1781. September 8th, was fought at Eutaw the 
last severe battle of the war, where part the Maryland 
troops, under Colonel Williams, signalized themselves 
again. It was on the 8th, that 'General Washing- 
ton, accompanied by the Count Rochambeau, General 
Hard, Major-General Baron Viomenil, Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Chatelux and General Clinton, passed through 
town on their way south. On this occasion, the town 
was illuminated, &g. October 19th. Lord Cornwallis 
capitulated, and the citizens were soon favored with 
opportunities, which they joyfully embraced, to offer 
their congratulations to the Commander-in-chief, the 
Marquis De Lafayette, and others, who had a share 
in the glorious event. 

December 13th was appointed and kept as a day of 
general thanksgiving. 

1782. At the first session of this year. Colonel 
Howard laid off part of the tract adjoining his father's 
first addition and that before made by Mr. Hall, and 
annexed to the town all the grounds east of the street 
to which the Colonel gave the name of Eutaw street. 



236 MEMOIRS OF 

Beyond that, and on the street which he called Lex- 
ington street, he laid off a spacious lot for a public 
market, which was improved and appropriated to that 
purpose twenty years after. The Colonel appropriated 
another spacious lot of ground on Baltimore street, 
west of Eutaw street, for the use of the state, should 
t'he General Assembly accept and make it the seat of 
Government within that period. Though an effort 
was made to carry the proposition in the House of 
Delegates at the same session, it was rejected by a vote 
of twenty to nineteen, and has failed as often as it was 
proposed, as well during the twenty years limited, as 
afterwards. 

At this period, none of the streets of Baltimore town, 
except here and there on the sideways, were paved, and 
the main street especially, from the depth of soil, was 
actually impassable some parts of the spring and fall 
seasons from the market house at Gay street to Calvert 
street. The Town Commissioners were therefore aided 
in effecting its improvement in this respect, by the 
Legislature at the November session, creating a Board 
of special Commissioners, empowerd "to direct and 
superintend the levelling, pitching, paving and repair- 
ing the streets and the bridges;" to begin with Balti- 
more street in part, and then from place to place, as 
circumstances required. The owners of lots and streets 
to be paved to pay $1.66-| per foot front; on lanes or 
alleys half price. An auction duty was laid. Major 
Thomas Yates being appointed "first sole auctioneer; '^ 
a tax on public exhibitions, to be licensed by the Com- 
missioners, and 33 J cents per $100 on the assessed 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 237 

property, with an annual lottery towards defraying 
the expenses. The same law prescribed the extent of 
porches and cellar doors, the breadth of carriage wheels, 
and removal of nuisances and obstructions in the streets 
or harbor. 

Mr. Charles Ridgely, of John, and others, at No- 
vember session, procured the addition to the town of 
those grounds called Gist's Inspection and Timber 
Neck, lying south of the former additions and upon 
the middle branch ; and Mr. Benjamin Rogers and 
others, those which lay between Fell's Prospect and 
Harris' Creek. These were the last specific additions 
by Act of Assembly, and the power given to the cor- 
poration to admit other grounds by the consent of the 
owners, being exercised only in one instance, relating 
to some lots on North Howard street, between Sara- 
toga and Mulberry streets, no change of limits was 
effected for many years, nor until the population of the 
precincts had become equal to a third of the town itself. 

It was in this year also, that a line of stage coaches 
was established between Philadelphia and Baltimore. 
The line was afterwards extended to Alexandria. 

The population this year was eight thousand, there 
being eight places of worship, viz : Episcopalian, Pres- 
byterian, Lutheran, Dutch Calvinists, Roman Catho- 
lics, Baptists, Friends and Methodists ; that is one for 
each denomination. 

The loans obtained abroad, and the payment of gold 
and silver to the French troops, procured a supply for 
circulation; and the Bank of North America being 
opened, paper was superseded altogether. 
11* 



238 MEMOIRS OF 

1783. Hostilities were suspended by Congress, 11th 
of April, and the joyful news of peace and indepen- 
dence was celebrated on the 21st. At night the town 
was illuminated. The first Act of the Legislature was 
to admit the entry of vessels from the British domin- 
ions, and British subjects were, for some months, per- 
mitted to hold registered shipping. 

Directly after the peace, several merchants from 
other States or other parts of this State settled here, 
besides a number of European gentlemen. Also a 
large number of Irish and German redempti oners, a 
society being formed to aid the Germans not speaking 
the English language. 

On the 16th of May, 1783, Mr. John Hays com- 
menced the publication of the paper entitled "The 
Maryland Gazette." This paper, with the Journal, 
was chiefly devoted to commerce. The British army 
having evacuated New York the 20th of November, 
the Americans entered it on the 25th, and the 11th of 
December was observed as a day of thanksgiving 
throughout the United States. 

In the course of this year, regular lines of "stage 
coaches" were established to Fredericktown and Anna- 
polis. Colonel Howard commenced his improvements 
at Belvidere. 

In the year 1784, the Koman Catholic congregation 
having largely increased, the Rev. Charles Sewell 
settled in Baltimore, and took charge of the church 
in Saratoga street, which was considerably enlarged. 
William Murphy, bookseller, succeeded in estab- 
lishing a circulating library, south side of Market 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 239 

(now Baltimore) street, one door east of Calvert 
street. 

Provision was made this year, (1784,) for lighting 
the streets; and the Town Commissioners were clothed 
with the authority of Justices, pursuant to law, in ac- 
cordance with which duty they appointed three con- 
stables and fourteen watchmen to guard the town. 

The proprietors of ground on Calvert street and in 
the meadow, then north of the Falls, desirous of 
extending that street, raised a sum of money to under- 
pin the Court House by three arches. As already 
stated, the Court House stood where the Eattle Monu- 
ment stands; therefore that point was the northern ter- 
minus of the south part of Calvert street. Having 
obtained permission of the Legislature, the earth to 
the depth of twenty feet was removed, and arches 
erected so as to admit of vehicles and pedestrians pass- 
ing under the building, which was not removed till 
the present Court House was erected. 

A new survey was now ordered to be made of the 
town, and the inhabitants began to discuss the necessity 
of a charter. 

As the jurisdiction of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church in America still remained with the Bishop 
of London, the revolution prevented regular ordina- 
tions. The Rev. Samuel Seabury, of Connecticut, 
went to London in order to procure higher orders, but 
encountered many delays, and did not return till June, 
1785. 

On Christmas day the first grand conference of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church was hold in Baltimore, 



210 MEMOIRS OF 

when the Rev. Dr. Thomas Coke, superinteiiclent, 
assisted by other preachers who came with him from 
England, constituted a new church ; and on the pre- 
sentation of preachers to the number of sixty, the Rev. 
Francis Asbury was appointed superintendent of the 
new organization. The next year the society sell the 
church on Lovely lane and build a new one on Light 
street. 

1785. John O'Donncll, Esq., arrived from Canton 
in the ship Pallas, 9th of August, with a full cargo of 
China goods, being the first direct importation from 
that country into this port, the value of which he fully 
realized here. Regular packets to and from Norfolk, 
Virginia, were established by Captain Joseph White 
and others of this place. Mr. Harrison's wharf was 
extended each side of South street, by Mr. Daniel 
Bowley, one of his executors, and it thence became 
known by the name of Bowley^s loliarf. Messrs. Pur- 
viance, McClure, Thomas and Samuel Hollingsworth, 
William Smith and Jesse Hollingsworth's wharves, 
and the private wharves generally, with Cheapside, 
were also extended. Piles, with the machine for 
driving them, were introduced by the builders of 
wharves. 

The German Calvinists erect a church at the east 
end of Baltimore street bridge. Rev. Mr. Boehme, 
pastor. 

No companies were yet chartered for insuring ves- 
sels and property at sea; but policies prepared by 
Hercules Courtenay, Esq., were subscribed by mer- 
chants and other individuals, to very large amounts. 



COLO^^EL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 211 

Similar insurances were afterwards effected on policies 
prepared by Captain Keeports. ' 

1786. A new theatre, built of wood by Hallani 
and Henry, near Queen (now Pratt) and Albemarle 
streets, was opened on the 17th of August. This year, 
October 5th, occurred a flood, noticed more particu- 
larly on page 116. 

In 1787 Mr. Oliver Evan's newly invented steam 
carriage, elevator and hopper boy, were patented by 
the Assembly, the elevator and hopper boy being 
generally introduced into the mills about Baltimore. 

The Baltimore Fire insurance Company was incor- 
porated, but this was succeeded, four years after, by 
another company called the ^'Maryland Fire Insur- 
ance Company,'^ and this was succeeded by another of 
the former name in 1807. The Equitable Society for 
mutual insurance w^as incorporated 1794, and in 1816 
the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company was incorpor- 
ated. Provision was also made by law, 1794, for 
regulating the transportation through the town and 
storage of gunpowder. 

It was in this year (1787) that Baltimore street was 
extended westwardly beyond Colonel Howard's addi- 
tion ; and an attempt was made to raise a company to 
introduce into the town a copious supply of wholesome 
water by pipes, but this was not effected for several 
years. 

In December, Cokesbury College, in Harford county, 
was opened and soon after incorporated. Mr. Asbury 
and the Council of the Methodist Church make some 



242 MEMOIRS OF 

progress in establishing ^^ Sunday Schools for persons of 
all descriptions, free of expense/' 

On the 31st of December, Mr. D. Stodder is robbed 
between Town and Point. For this offence two men 
named Donnelly and Mooney were tried, convicted 
and executed ! 

1788. On the 1st of May there was a grand pro- 
cession of trades, in honor of the ratification of the 
new government by the State Convention,. April 28th 
ultimo. A ship-rigged boat called the Federalist was 
drawn in the procession, and afterwards was navigated 
by Captain Barney to Mount Vernon and presented to 
General Washington, on the part of the merchants of 
Baltimore. 

The Legislature elect Colonel Howard Governor of 
the State in November, and he was reelected the two 
succeeding years, as allowed by the Constitution; an 
honor not before conferred on the town, and not since 
repeated ; but a like honor was subsequently bestowed 
upon the county in the election of Charles Ridgely, 
Esq., of Hampton, in 1815, 1816 and 1817; in which 
latter year the former Governor's son, John Eager 
Howard, Jr., Esq., was chosen a member of the Ex- 
ecutive Council and reelected the two succeeding years, 
being the only member selected from this town or 
county for that body. 

A Criminal Court was this year (1788) organized 
for the county and town, consisting of five Justices, 
Samuel Chase, Esq., being appointed Chief Justice. 
Male persons convicted of felonies might be con- 
demned to work on the roads leading to the town, 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 243 

on the streets or harbor ; the convicts from other 
counties being also sent to the same labor. This 
court appointed the constables and superintended the 
night watch and was an abridgment of the authority 
of the special Commissioners favorable to the town 
police, because the court held its commission by a 
more certain tenure and was better compensated for 
time devoted to public duties. 

In March, Samuel Purviance, Esq., formerly chair- 
man of the committee of this town and member of the 
Convention of 1774, whilst descending the Ohio, with 
others, was made captive by the Indians and put to 
death soon after, as was reported and believed. 

1789. General Washington having been unani- 
mously chosen President of the United States, passed 
through Baltimore, April 17th, on his way to Con- 
gress, at New York. On this occasion he was enter- 
tained at supper by the citizens, and to the address 
delivered him he replied : " The tokens of regard and 
affection which I have often received from the citizens 
of this town were always acceptable, because I believed 
them always sincere,^' &c., adding this declaration, by 
the strict adherence to which he secured for his mem- 
ory that reverence which is now, and probably ever 
will be, paid to true merit by civilized man : ^'Having 
undertaken the task from a sense of duty, no fear of 
encountering difficulties and no dread of losing j^opu- 
larity, shall ever deter me from pursuing what I conceive 
to he the true interests of my country.''^ 

Laws having been passed by Congress to carry the 
Federal Constitution into effect, the President ap- 



244 MEMOIRS OF 

pointed General O. H. Williams, Collector; Robert 
Purviance, Esq., Kaval Officer; and Colonel Robert 
Ballard, Surveyor of this Port. 

A great many persons joined the Methodist congre- 
gation, and for the first time a preacher was stationed 
in the town and a church built by that Society on 
Grreen (now Exeter) street. 

Mr. Englehard Yeiser, with others owning the 
grounds, cut a new channel for the falls, from the 
lower mill at Bath street, across the meadow to Gay 
street bridge ; of which channel the bounds are fixed 
by ordinance of the city in 1803, and the old course of 
the falls hy the Court House loas gradually filled up. 
A.fter which it became a dispute as to whom the 
grounds thus made actually belonged ! This once 
innocent, murmuring rivulet seems to have had trouble 
3ver since it was taken from its original bed. 

A society for promoting the " abolition of slavery, 
ind for the relief of free negroes and others unlaw- 
fully held in bondage,'^ was organized, of which Philip 
Rogers, Esq., was chosen President, and Mr. Joseph 
Townsend, Secretary ; but some opposition on the part 
3f the State Legislature in 1792 caused them to dis- 
continue further active measures, and upon which they 
transferred the building they had erected on Sharp 
street for an African school, to the religious people of 
3olor, who made additions to it. Another association, 
called the Protection Society, was formed in 1817, 
ivhich was intended nearly for the same object. Of 
:his organization the late Elisha Tyson, of the Society 
')^ Friends, was a most active member. Animated by 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 245 

motives no loss benevolent, but guided by more pru- 
dence, perhaps, than their predecessors, many useful 
persons of color were pro])erly protected, and incorri- 
gible servants sold and transported, without interfer- 
ence of the magistracy or of the society. 

1790. The November session of the Legislature 
authorized the following gentlemen to take subscrip- 
tions for the Bank of Maryland, viz : Messrs. Samuel 
Smith, Wm. Patterson, Jeremiah Yellott, Englehard 
Yeiser, Robert Gilmor, Thorowgood Smith, Charles 
Garts, Thomas Hollingsworth, James Edwards, James 
Carey, O. H. Williams and IN'icholas Sluby. $200,000 
were subscribed, in shures of $100 each, in fourteen 
days, being two-thirds of the capital, Avhich was paid 
in during the ensuing year, and the institution went 
into operation upon a portion of the capital. William 
Patterson, Esq., was elected President, and Ebenezer 
Mackie, Esq., Cashier. The entire capital of $300,000 
was afterwards completed. The Bank was rendered 
perpetual, the State granting peculiar privileges,-~cind 
reserved no part of the stock or direction. Few of the 
notes of ^'The Bank of North America,'^ at Phila- 
delphia, had reached Baltimore at the time, and none 
of the banks of New York or Boston had any circu- 
lation here; but the officers of ^'The Bank of the 
United States,'^ chartered by Congress in 1700, thought 
proper to open a branch in Baltimore early in 1792, of 
wdiich the parent Board appointed George Gale, Esq., 
President, and David Harris, Esq., Cashier. The 
exorbitant dividends made by the Bank of Maryland, 
indicated the want of another bank, notwithstand- 



24G MEMOIRS OF 

ing the loans afforded by the United States branch. 
Accordingly, in 1795, the "Bank of Baltimore" was 
chartered, after an ineifectual attempt to increase the 
capital of the Bank of Maryland. The Bank of Bal- 
timore's capital was $1,200,000; George Salaion, Esq., 
President, and James Cox, Esq., Cashier. The charter 
was limited to twenty years, the State reserving the 
right to subscribe for six thousand shares at $300 each, 
and appointing two of seventeen Directors annually 
chosen. The charter has served as a model for others, 
and has been itself renewed. 

The Rev. Dr. John Carroll, who in the early part of 
the Revolution had been employed with others in a 
political embassy to the Canadians by Congress, on the 
application of the Catholic clergy, was consecrated in 
England a Bishop of that church, to reside in Balti- 
more, and returned here in 1790. In 1796 a small 
chapel was built on the Point, which was succeeded by 
St. Patrick's Church on Point Market street, (now 
Broadway,) in 1807. The German Catholics erected 
a church on Saratoga street in 1799, and St. Mary's, a 
Catholic church at the college, was finished iu 1807. 
Under the auspices of the Bishop, who was universally 
beloved, the foundation of the Cathedral in Charles 
street, the design of which was furnished by the late 
Benjamin H. Latrobe, Esq., was laid in 1806; and 
four years after, the Bishop became an Archbishop. 

According to a list published, the sea vessels belong- 
ing to this port consisted of twenty-seven ships, six 
thousand seven hundred and one tons; one snow, 
eighty tons; thirty-one brigs, three thousand seven 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 247 

hundred and seven tons; thirty-four schooners, two 
thousand four hundred and fifty-four tons, and nine 
sloops, five hundred and fifty-nine tons. Total, one 
hundred and two vessels, aggregating thirteen thou- 
sand five hundred and sixty-four tons. 

Census. According to the first census taken by the 
general government, the population of Baltmore and 
precincts in 1790 amounted to thirteen thousand five 
hundred and three persons of all descriptions, viz : 
white males, six thousand four hundred and twenty- 
two; females, five thousand five hundred and three; 
other free persons, three hundred and twenty-three ; 
slaves, one thousand two hundred and fifty-five. 

In the fall of 1789 and spring of 1790, there raged 
throughout the country, commencing at the south, an 
epidemic called the influenza^ which was fatal in some 
instances. 

On the 7th of May, 1790, the first session of the 
Circuit Court of the United States for this district was 
held here by John Blair, Esq., of Virginia, one of the 
Judges of the Supreme Court, and AVm. Paca, Esq., 
District Judge. 

In 1791 Messrs. Robert Gilmor, John O'Donnell, 
Stephen Wilson, Charles Ghequiere, John Holmes and 
others erect a powder mill on Gwynn's Falls. Subse- 
quently the Etna was built on the same stream, (1812;) 
Belona on Jones' Falls, 1802. The last was twice 
blown up, and several lives lost; but rebuilt and con- 
tinued. 

Judge Chase, still Judge of the Criminal Court, is 
appointed Chief Justice of the General Court. 



248 MEMOIRS OF 

A new Presbyterian church, built on tlie site of the 
former one on East street, (now Fayette,) was dedicated 
by the Rev. Dr. Allison July 3d, 1791. A small 
church was erected on Pitt street (now East Fayette) 
in 1800 by the Associate Reformed Presbyterians, who 
were visited occasionally by the Rev. Mr. Annan. The 
Second Presbyterian Church, on Baltimore street, was 
built in 1804. The Rev. John Glendy was the first 
pastor. A church was erected on Fayette street, also 
Reformed, in 1813, Rev. John M. Duncan, pastor; 
the congregation disposing of the one on Pitt street to 
a society of Covenanters, who chose the Rev. John 
Gibson for minister. The Presbyterians, in 1822, 
erected another, called the Third Presbyterian Church, 
on Eutaw street, of which the Rev. W. C. AYalton was 
the first pastor. 

1792. On the 1st of November was held in Balti- 
more the first regular general conference of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. 

On the 17th of September the Rev. Thomas J. Clag- 
gett was ordained Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church of Maryland ; and the Rev. Joseph G. J. Bond 
succeeds Dr. West, Rector of St. Paul's, deceased. 

This year the clergymen and ministers of the differ- 
ent sects or churches were incorporated, to receive alms 
for the poor of every society. 

The war which commenced on the continent of 
Europe in 1792, being extended to Great Britain in 
the commencement of 1793, it became necessary to 
protect our commerce by a declaration of neutrality. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 249 

which was announced by the President 23d of April, 
and the merchants of Baltimore presented him with 
an approbatory, address soon after. 

The subject of a city charter, which had occupied 
the attention of the writers in the papers of the day, 
and the citizens generally, was taken up by the Legis- 
lature in 1793, and an Act passed for consideration; 
but the inhabitants of the Point took part in opposi- 
tion, and it was not carried into effect. 

There was an effort made by a number of merchants 
to open an exchange for the transaction of business, 
and the buildings south-west corner Water and Com- 
merce streets were fitted up and used for the purpose, 
but after some time was discontinued. 

Several Lodges of Freemasons had been established 
in Baltimore under the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania 
or Virginia, and as early as 1788, D. Stodder, Wor- 
shipful Master of No. 15, now 6, and officers obtain 
a warrant from the Grand Lodge of Maryland, held at 
Easton at different times since the year 1783. On the 
8th of May, 1794, the Grand Lodge, Henry Wilmans, 
R. W. G. M., Lambert Smith, G. Sec, assemble in 
this town. 

1794. Yellow fever made its appearance in the 
town, the deaths during the months of August and 
September being three hundred and forty-four; the 
malady not ceasing till October 15th. After the inter- 
val of three years, it made its appearance again ; also 
in 1799 and 1800; and again in 1819 and 1820. 
Many fled from the town with their families. 



250 MEMOIRS OF 

It was in 1794, Messrs. Wignell & Reinagle, aided 
bj subscription of shares, completed a small wooden 
theatre on Holliday street, which Messrs. Warren & 
Wood, with like assistance, rebuilt of brick during the 
blockade of 1813. Messrs. Robert C. Long, AVilliam 
Steuart and James Mosher, builders. ' 

1795. July 27th. A town meeting was held at the 
Court House, and a committee chosen to address the 
President on the subject of the treaty with England, 
adverse to its ratification. The answer of the Presi- 
dent referred the citizens to his answer to the select 
men of Boston ; in which, being disposed to adopt the 
treaty, he appeals to the principles of conscious recti- 
tude contained in his answer to the address of this 
town, on his first election to the Presidency, and hopes 
that experience will justify him. 

In 1785 an Act of Assembly had passed to authorize 
the acceptance of a lot on Saratoga street, presented the 
Protestant Episcopal Congregation by Colonel Howard 
for a parsonage, which is now (1794) finished and occu- 
pied by Dr. Bend, rector of St. Paul's Church. 

The vestry of St. Paul's parish purchase the church 
at Baltimore street bridge, which was erected 1785 by 
Jacob Myers and others, Dutch Calvin ists, and had 
been injured by the flood of 1786. The church was 
repaired, the vestry giving it the name of Christ 
Church; and in 1804 they raise the steeple and pro- 
cure a chime of six bells. Upon this acquisition, the 
Rev. John Ireland was appointed associate minister of 
the parish. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STAKSBURY. 251 

The Calvinists erect a parsonage and church on 
Second street. The successors of Mr. Boehme were 
the Rev. Mr. Pomp, Trultenier, Baker and Heifer- 
stein. 

The Rt. Rev. Bishop Carroll, the Rev. Drs. Patrick 
Allison and Joseph G. Bend, Dr. George Brown, 
Messrs. RichM Caton, Thos. Poultney, James Carroll, 
Geo. W. Field, Robert Gilraor, Nicholas Brice, David 
Harris, and others form a library company, which was 
incorporated the following year; the above named 
gentlemen being elected officers and managers. 

The house of General Smith, on the north side of 
"Water street, (now Exchange place,) was erected on a 
plan furnished by himself, and executed by Messrs. 
John Scroggs, Robert Steuart and James Mosher, 
builders. 

1796. At last the town gets incorporated. For 
particulars see page 213. 

1797. A subscription was taken up for a hall for 
dancing, and the building was erected in Holliday 
street, from a design by Colonel N. Rogers, Messrs. 
R. C. Long, James Donaldson, Hessington and Lau- 
der, builders. It will be known as the Assembly 
Rooms. 

Colonel Howard having completed the Senatorial 
term, is reappointed Senator of the United States for 
the ensuing six years. 

1798. At a town meeting on the 7th of September, 
it was resolved that a subscription should be opened 
for money to aid the distressed inhabitants of Phila- 



252 MEMOIRS OF 

delpliiaj then afflicted with yellow fever; and on the 
15th, the Mayor suspended communication between 
the two cities. 

The Kev. William Du Bourg, now Bishop of the 
Catholic church in Louisiana, with other clergymen of 
that society, then lately arrived from France, establish 
an academy near the intersection of Franklin and 
Green streets in 1791, to which considerable additions 
were made in 1804, aided by a lottery, with permission 
of the Legislature to grant diplomas in any of the 
faculties, under incorporation ; Mr. Du Bourg being 
the first President. After which the Kev. Messrs. 
Xagot, Tessier and other clergymen, who had estab- 
lished a theological seminary there, added to this 
establishment a handsome church, the style of which 
is gothic, from a design furnished by M. Godfroy, Esq. 

The Rev. Dr. Bend and others form a society for 
the education of poor female children, which is incor- 
porated by the name of " The Benevolent Society." 

The Methodist Society established a free school for 
male children, which was incorporated in 1808; soon 
after which the trustees purchased and improved the 
lot on Courtland street for its use. 

1799. Agreeably to the powers of the corporation, 
an addition was made to the city of a small parcel 
of ground situated north of Saratoga street; and 
the bounds of Harford and Canal streets were fixed, 
together with the channel of the basin. 

On the 28th of May a fire broke out on the west 
side of South street, and consumed a number of ware- 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 253 

houses and much valuable property between that street 
and Bowley's wharf.- 

In the same year, the Rev. John Hargrove, who 
had espoused the doctrines of the Baron Swedenbourg, 
erected by the aid of others of the same faith, the 
New Jerusalem Temple at the corner of Baltimore 
and Exeter streets, which was dedicated the ensuing 
year. Heretofore the citizens had witnessed much 
confusion and turbulence, by the multitudes of people 
assembled at elections for the town and county. The 
Legislature, therefore, changed the constitution by 
dividing both into districts, the wards of the city 
serving for districts. Two years after the manner of 
voting was limited to ballots instead of by voice, 
which tended to a great extent to check the evil com- 
plained of. On the petition of the proprietors, Pratt 
street from Franklin lane was directed to be opened 
to the Falls. By ordinance of the corporation, a 
bridge was erected to connect that street with the one 
called Queen street, (now East Pratt.) Another ordi- 
nance was passed, to open and extend North lane, 
which was called Belvidere, (now North street,) and 
another to extend Lombard street eastwardly. 

Messrs. John Hollins and James A. Buchanan erect 
those two spacious houses on the west side of Wash- 
ington square, (now Monument square.) Messrs. James 
Mosher and Joseph Small, builders. 

On the 15th of December we learn the decease of 
General Washington, which happened the day before. 
On the 1st of January, 1800, funeral rites were ob- 



12 



254 MEMOIRS OF 

served. The military, including the regulars stationed 
at Fort McHenry, and citizens form a procession to 
the head of Baltimore street, where an appropriate 
address was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Allison. From 
thence the procession proceeded to Christ Church. 
After the bier had entered, the funeral service was 
performed by the Rev. Dr. Bend before an immense 
concourse, who were deeply affected by the great loss 
which they had sustained. 

On the 15th of June, 1800, President Adams passed 
through the town from the seat of government, then 
lately removed to Washington, and the corporation 
presented him an address of congratulation. 

Charles Burrell, Esq., is appointed Postmaster. Dr. 
John B. Davage, who had been educated in Europe, 
and who had some time previously settled in Balti- 
more, commenced a course of lectures on the Prin- 
ciples and Practice of Midwifery, to which he added 
the next season. Practical Surgery, and the following 
fall. Demonstrative Anatomy. The lectures were 
delivered at his residence, till the Doctor erected an 
Anatomical Hall near the south-east corner of Liberty 
and Saratoga streets, being joined by Dr. James Cooke 
in the lectures on Anatomy and Physiology, and by 
Dr. John Shaw, who lectured on Chemistry at his own 
dwelling. The anatomical lectures had scarcely com- 
menced in the new hall, when a clamor was raised by 
some ignorant neighbors, the populace demolishing the 
building and destroying the Doctor's valuable prepara- 
tions. For two or three years after, the lectures were 
delivered at the Alms House, corner of Eutaw and 
Madison streets. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURYt 255 

General Napoleon Bonaparte, lately made 
First Consul of the French republic, concludes a treaty 
of peace with this country early in 1800. Hostilities 
ceasing, the army and navy were reduced. 

Mr. Marcus McCousland erects a brewery in Holli- 
day street near the corner of Fish (now Saratoga) street. 
The former site of the brewery is now occupied by the 
Gas Company. 

A new powder magazine is erected on the south side 
of the river, fronting on wli|it is now known as Fort 
avenue. 

The AsvSembly pass a law, authorizing the corpora- 
tion to introduce water into the city, which was not 
carried into effect; whereupon Messrs. Robert G. 
Harper, William Cooke, John McKim, John Don- 
nell, Robert Gilmor, and others, form a society for 
the purpose in 1804, and purchasing the mill property 
next to the city, convey the water by canal and raise it 
by water power to elevated reservoirs. They were in- 
corporated as a company in 1808. In the same year, 
Messrs. Joseph and James Biays procure a license to 
sink pipes and dispose of water from their spring on 
the Point. 

A number of gentlemen form a society which they 
call " The Society of St. George," to relieve emigrants 
from England. 

The Rt. Rev. Bishop Carroll, the Rev. Dr. Bend, 
Mr. James Priestly, Dr. Crawford, and others, form a 
society, called " The Maryland Society for Promoting 
Useful Knowledge ; " both of which associations were 
discontinued after a few years. 



256 MEMOIRS OF 

By the new census of 1800, the city with precincts 
contains a population of thirty-one thousand five hun- 
dred and fourteen — as follows : white males, eleven 
thousand two hundred and ninety-four; females, nine 
thousand six hundred and six ; other free persons, two 
thousand seven hundred and seventy-one ; slaves, two 
thousand eight hundred and forty-three; precincts, of 
all sexes and colors, supposed, five thousand ; being an 
increase of eighteen thousand and eleven in the last ten 
years. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 257 



CHAPTER XX. 

Baltimore in the Nineteenth Century — Innocula- 
TiON Introduced — Cathedral — Baltimore College 
— Penitentiary — New Court House, &c. 

Innoculation with vaccine matter having been 
discovered by Dr. Jenner five years before, Mr. Wm. 
Taylor, merchant, received in 1801 from his brother 
John Taylor, then in London, a quantity of matter for 
propogation, which was used successfully by Drs. M. 
Littlejohn and James Smith. Upon the application of 
Dr. Smith the Legislature of Maryland becomes the 
first to sanction the distribution; and in 1809 Dr. 
Smith was granted a lottery to raise a certain sum for 
the distribution of matter gratuitously during six 
years; and in 1810 the Rev. Dr. Bend, Wm. Gwynn, 
Esq., Dr. Smith, and others, form an association for 
promoting vaccination generally ; but this society was 
afterwards discontinued, and another formed in 1822, 
of which Dr. James Stewart was President. There was 
at each of these periods cause to apprehend the spread 
of small pox among the citizens, but when the disease 
happily disappeared in the community, the society was 
dissolved. 

This year the Legislature authorized the building of 
a Lazaretto, which was accordingly put up by the cor- 
poration on the point opposite Fort McHenry. 

Messrs. Emanuel Kent, Elisha Tyson, William Mac- 
creery, Richard Stewart, and others, form a society to 
furnish medical relief to the poor gratuitously, which 



258 MEMOIRS OF 

in 1807 was incorporated by the name of the " Balti- 
more General Dispensary," there having been since the 
foundation of the society to that time six thousand two 
hundred and sixty-three patients. This society has by 
great exertions outlived most of its cotemporaries. 

Robert Smith, Esq., is appointed Secretary of the 
Navy, the duties of which department had been for a 
short time committed to General Smith. Part of the 
year 1805, the former held the office of Attorney-Gen- 
eral of the United States, and was appointed Secretary 
of State in 1809. In 1806 he was appointed Chancel- 
lor of this State, and Chief Judge of this district, but 
declined. 

Mr. Benjamin Henfrey, an Englishman, had lately 
discovered and attempted to bring into use, a species 
of coal from General Ridgely's land, about six miles 
north-east of the town, but did not succeed. Mr. 
Henfrey discovered a method of creating light by gas 
from wood, exhibited experiments here, and actually 
lighted Richmond, Virginia, before any similar dis- 
covery was known. 

On the cessation of hostilities in Europe after the 
treaty of Amiens, the prices of produce and the amount 
of exports fell considerably, but this state of things 
was not of sufficient duration to affect the progress of 
the city, or of the country generally. 

Jerome Bonaparte, brother of the First Consul of 
France, marries Miss Patterson, daughter of William 
Patterson, Esq., of this city. 

The Rev. Dr. James "Whitehead succeeds the Rev. 
Mr. Ireland as associate minister of St. PauFs and 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 259 

Christ Churches; St. Peter's Church in Sharp street was 
soon after erected, Rev. George Dashield the officiating 
minister. Tliis congregation also established a free 
school for children of that denomination. Dr. White- 
head subsequently removing to Norfolk, Virginia, is 
succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Elijah D. Ratoone as asso- 
ciate minister of St. Paul's, &c. 

This year the prisoners are moved to the new jail on 
Mill street. This structure stands near the centre of a 
five acre lot adjoining the Falls, from which it is two 
hundred feet ; front being one hundred and fifty-seven 
feet, exclusive of two towers for sewers of twenty-five 
feet each, thirty-five feet deep, with projections in rear 
of each wing; twenty cells capable of containing twenty 
persons each, or an aggregate of four hundred persons. 
On the 21st of August departed this life, aged sixty- 
two years, the Rev. Dr. Patrick Allison, founder of the 
First Presbyterian Church in this city. He was suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. James Inglis. 

During peace which succeeded the treaty of Amiens, 
Baltimore became the Metropolitan See of the Roman 
Catholic Church in the United States. The trustees 
determined to build a spacious and substantial Cathe- 
dral, which was commenced three years after. It was 
also in 1803, that the Rt. Rev. Bishop Carroll and 
others, with Mr. James Priestly, who had been for 
some time principal of a respectable seminary in St. 
Paul's lane, procure a charter for the Baltimore Col- 
lege, which, by aid of a lottery, was erected on Mul- 
berry street, the Bishop being appointed President of 
the Board of Trustees. 



260 MEMOIRS OF 

The 7th of February, 1803, was remarkable in this 
city for a great fog. 

1804. The Legislature pass a law to erect a Peni- 
tentiary to supersede what was commonly called "the 
wheelbarrow law," in accordance with which Messrs. 
John Eager Howard, Josias Pennington, Robert C. 
Long and six others were appointed Commissioners, 
who purchase grounds and erect buildings on Madison 
street, near the York road, Daniel Conn being the 
architect and builder; and in 1809 a new criminal 
code w^as adapted to the institution, leaving the com- 
mission of murder, arson, rape and treason only, liable 
to the punishment of death. 

This year the Union Bank of Maryland is chartered, 
William Winchester, Esq., President; Kalph Higgin- 
bothara, Esq., Cashier. Three years after the spacious 
banking house on North Charles street was erected, 
Robert C. Long, architect; William Steuart & James 
Mosher, builders. Chevalier Andrea and Franzoni 
execute the sculpture. Proposed capital $3,000,000 — 
$2,312,150, including $42,400 by the State, were paid 
in ; but shares amounting to $2^4,250 were purchased 
by the corporation. The Mechanics' Bank is also in- 
corporated. Banking house built at the south-east 
corner of Calvert and East streets. Proposed capital 
$1,000,000— $640,000 paid in, including $94,625 by 
the State. 

1805. Nine Commissioners are appointed to build 
a new Court House, and decide erecting the same on 
part of the old public grounds on North Calvert street, 
George Milleman executes the wood work, William 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 261 

Steuart the stone, and James Mosber the brick work. 
The county records were removed and the courts held 
sessions there in 1809, when the old arched Court 
House, which stood where the Battle Monument now 
stands, was taken down. The new building is one 
hundred and forty-five feet on Church (now Lexing- 
ton) street, and on Washington square (now Monu- 
ment square) sixty-five feet deep. Court room in each 
of the two stories sixty by forty-six feet ; the base- 
ment of the whole is arched in stone and brick work, 
and the Orphans' Court and Clerks' rooms, where 
the records are kept, vaulted for safety against fire. 
The Friends complete their new meeting house on 
Lombard street, west side of the city. 

1806. Sower & Hewes establish a type foundry on 
Lexington street; subsequently transferred to Biddle st. 

William Pinkney, Esq., is appointed Minister to the 
Court of Great Britain. 

1807. A company is organized to procure regular 
supplies of Calcutta and China goods, Robert Gilmor, 
Esq., President. 

On the 3d of November, soon after the acquittal of 
Aaron Burr, the populace paraded the streets with the 
effigies of Chief Justice Marshall, Luther Martin, Burr 
and Blennerhasset, which they afterwards commit to 
the flames. 

1808. This year the Lutheran Church, running 
from Gay to Holliday streets, is erected. Robert 
Oiver, Esq., erects his house on the west side o 
South Gay street; R. C. Long, architect, William 
Steuart and James Mosher, builders. 
12* 



262 MEMOIRS OF 

The City Hospital is leased by the Mayor and 
City Council to Drs. Mackenzie and Smyth for fifteen 
years. 

October 18th, 1808. An English journeyman shoe- 
maker, named Beattie, having used some expressions 
in politics which offended his fellow-workmen, they 
tar and feather him and drive him in a cart from the 
corner of South and Baltimore streets to the Point and 
back again, followed by Mayor Smith, who, with a 
number of citizens, at length rescue him. 

1809. Messrs. John Comegys, James A. Buchanan, 
David Winchester, and others, obtain permission to 
raise $100,000 by lottery, for the purpose of erecting 
a Monument to the memory of General Washington ; 
and on the 4th _of July, 1815, a marble pillar was com- 
menced by Messrs. William Steuart and Thomas Tow- 
son, according to a design furnished by Robert Mills, 
Esq., on ground given by Colonel Howard, at the 
intersection of John (now Monument) and Charles 
streets. The base or plynth, fifty feet square, is ele- 
vated twenty feet; the pillar is twenty feet diameter 
at base, and one hundred and sixty-three feet high and 
finished. On this is to be placed a statue of the 
patriot whose memory the monument is intended to 
honor and perpetuate. 

The charter of the Bank of the United States expir- 
ing without a prospect of being renewed, pecuniary 
difficulties were anticipated and the several banks, 
called the Commercial and Farmers', the Farmers and 
Merchants', the Franklin and Marine, were organized 
and chartered. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 263 

1810. The population of this census is as follows, 
viz: nineteen thousand and forty-five white males; 
females, seventeen thousand one hundred and forty- 
seven ; other free persons, five thousand six hundred 
and seventy-one; slaves, four thousand six hundred 
and seventy-two. Total, forty-six thousand five hun- 
dred and fifty-five, including ten thousand nine hun- 
dred and seventy-one in the precincts. 

Peter Little, Esq., is elected to Congress for the city 
and county. 

1811. On the 16th of May, at night, the frigate 
United States and the British sloop of war Little Belt, 
had a serious rencounter and the latter was surren- 
dered to Commodore Kodgers, but he refused to receive 
her, and tendered the Commander assistance to repair 
the ship. 

On the 18th of November fifty-one convicts were 
transferred from the roads to the new Penitentiary. 

September, 1811. Hezekiah Niles commenced pub- 
lishing his " Weekly Register/' and John S. Skinner 
"The American Farmer,'' subsequently 1819. 

1812. The citizens petition to have the Jail in- 
closed, and a wall of stone was erected. 

June 18th, 1812. War is declared against England. 
On the 20th a number of citizens, offended at the 
obnoxious editortials of the Federal Republican news- 
paper opposed to the w^ar, attack and demolish the 
office at the north-west corner of Gay and Second 
streets. On the 27th of July one of the editors, A. 
C. Hanson, Esq., and several friends of the establish- 
ment, having printed the paper at Georgetown, District 
of Columbia, brought it to the city and distributed it 



264 MEMOIRS OF 

from a house in South Charles street, which had been 
the dwelling of Jacob Wagner, Esq., the other editor, 
and which they boldly announced their determination 
to defend, an aifray took place in the night between 
them and the offended citizens. One person was 
killed, and others wounded mortally among the assail- 
ing party. After this the house was surrendered to the 
city officers, and the editor and his friends, to the num- 
ber of twenty -two, were conducted in the morning by 
the Mayor, General Strieker and a few of the militia 
to the prison. Here they were again attacked on the 
ensuing night. General James M. Lingan, of George- 
town, w^as killed, and Mr. John Thompson tarred and 
feathered, carted to the Point, and otherwise cruelly 
treated. The rest were severely beaten and wounded. 
Presentments were found against many individuals of 
each party, but all were acquitted and discharged. 

Mr. Rembrant Peal establishes a Museum and Gal- 
lery of the Fine Arts in Holliday street, in the building 
where the Councils now meet. 

1814. The corporation is aided by a Committee of 
Vigilance and Defence of fifty citizens; light entrench- 
ments are thrown up on the north-east side of the 
town, and several large vessels are sunk at the entrance 
of the harbor opposite the fort. Much valuable prop- 
erty is removed to the country for safety, with many of 
the families of citizens ; and the banks suspend specie 
payments. 

The erection of the Exchange Building and Custom 
House was commenced 1815, and both occupied 1820. 

The Rev. Dr. John Carroll, who had been Bishop 
and Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church for 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. ' 265 

twenty-five years, died universally regretted December 
3d, 1815. 

On the 31st of March, 1816, the Rev. Francis 
Asbury died at Fredericksburg, Virginia, aged sev- 
enty-two years. He had been Bishop of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church thirty-one years. 

This year Messrs. Rembrandt Peale, "VVm. Lorman, 
James Mosher, R. C. Long and William Gwynn form 
a company, and are chartered to furnish the city with 
gas, and erect their works on the south-east corner of 
Saratoga and North streets. 

The limits of the city are extended by an "Act to 
enlarge the bounds of Baltimore city,'' including the 
old precincts, extending three and a half miles from 
north to south, and four and a half from east to west, 
and containing in land and water about ten thousand 
acres surface; all included within the twelve wards of 
the city. 

March 11th, 1817, the new St. PauFs Church was 
consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Kemp. 

At this period, Sunday schools were organized by 
the religious societies generally, and the members of 
the Catholic Church establish a free school for both 
sexes. 

By the census of 1820, the population was com- 
puted to be forty-nine thousand two hundred and 
thirty-five. 

On the 31st of May, 1821, the Roman Catholic 
Cathedral, which was begun in 1806, was consecrated 
by the Most Rev. Arclibishop Mareschal. 

1822. The new stone bridge on Gay street is 
finished—cost $20,000. 



266 



MEMOIES OF 



A Society is formed to loan useful books to the 
youths of the city, called " The Apprentices' Library," 
and Colonel James Mosher is cliosen President. 

On the 2d of December five hundred and thirty-three 
paupers of the city and county were removed to the new 
Alms House at Calverton, two miles west of the city. 



The following list was kindly furnished by Colonel 
Nicholas Brewer, but too late to be inserted in its 
appropriate place. 

A List of the Defenders of Balibnore in the War of 1812, who are 
7iotv living^ {1874,) with their respective ages. 

OrncER? OF THE Association. 



Years. 
Maj Joshua Duydkn, Pres't, 81 
Col. John Dutton, Vice Pres't, 77 
Col. Nicholas Brkwkr, Sec'y, 8y 
AsBURY Jaurett, Treasurer. 78 

Captain Joseph Clackner, 
Captain Thomas Kelso,* 
Jksse L. Hiss, 
Benjamin German, 
James Elmork, 
William Batchelcr, 
Matthew H. Murray, 
Abraham Troxell, 
Thomas B. Watts, 
Colonel Mendes I. Cohen, 
John Petiicord, 
Thomas Green, 
James Shelden, 
Joseph Bookman, 
David Whitson, 
Henry Warner, 
Thomas Dean, 
Nicholas L Woods, 
James Ensor, 
John D. Toy, 

Colonel Elisha Stansbury, 
John Tudor, 
Henry Walker, 
John Jamison, 
George Boss, 
Michael Gross, 



Years. 
Lieut. John Tjams, Marshall, 85 
Dr. Sam'l B. Martin, Surg'n, 90 
Samuel Jennings, Ensign. 77 



95 


Christopher Wynx, 


78 


90 


John J. Daneker, 


76 


86 


John Piet, 


82 


81 


Henry Hickman, 


80 


86 


William Groom, 


81 


86 


Dr William McPherson, 


83 


84 


John Jknnings, 


80 


86 


Isaac D. Fowler, 


82 


82 


Samuel Glenn, 


79 


77 


Lkmukl W. Gosnell, 


78 


77 


William Spicknall, 


81 


81 


Henry Lightner, 


76 


80 


William McPherson, 


SO 


76 


William Metzger, 


81 


83 


James Morford, 


80 


78 


James Pknnington, 


83 


82 


William Stites, 


80 


79 


John C. Schley, 


88 


75 


Captain Henry Snowden, 


82 


79 


William Spicknall, 


81 


82 


Ekuben Trowbridge, 


80 


80 


John Wright, 


84 


80 


Nathaniel Watts, 


SO 


82 


Samuel Wardell, 


83 


79 


Hi bkrt B. Varden, 


78 


80 


Captain John A. Webster, 


86 



* Founder of " The Methodist Episcopal Orphan Asylum "—endowing it with $100,000. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 267 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Inauguration op the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 
road — Cholera, &c. 

We shall never forget tlie 4th of July, 1828 ; for it 
Avas on that day the first stone of the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad was laid by the venerable Charles 
Carroll of Carrolton, the last surviving signer 
of the Declaration of Independence, then ninety-one 
years old. It was our privilege to witness the impos- 
ing ceremonies which had attracted to the city a great 
concourse of strangers, two days before the celebration. 
On the afternoon and evening immediately preceding, 
all the roads leading into the city were thronged with 
carriages and pedestrians, while in the city itself, the 
lively and incessant crowds in Baltimore street, the 
movement of various cars belonging to the different 
trades, .with their banners and decorations, to their 
several points of destination, the erection of scaffolds 
and the removal of window sashes, gave so many 
*^ notes of preparation" for the ensuing fite. The 
morning dawned bright and cool, to the great com- 
fort of the immense throng of spectators that from a 
very early hour filled every* window in Baltimore 
street, and the pavement below, from Bond street, on 
the east, far west on Baltimore street extended, a dis- 
tance of about two miles. What the numbers were we 
had no means of ascertaining; fifty thousand spectators 
at least must have been present, among the whole of 



268 MEMOIRS OF 

whom we witnessed a quietness and good order seldom 
seen in so immense a multitude — no accident disturb- 
ing the festivity of the scene in the city. The proces- 
sion left Bond street a little before eight o'clock, and 
turned up Baltimore street in the order arranged. The 
"good ship'^ The Union, completely rigged on Fell's 
Point, was at the extreme left of the line, and as the 
various bands of music, trades and other bodies in the 
procession passed before it, it was evident, from their 
greetings, that they regarded the combined symbols of 
of our Confederacy and Navy with special approbation. 
About ten o'clock the procession reached the spot on 
which the foundation stone of the railroad was to be 
placed — a field two and a quarter miles from town, 
south of the Frederick turnpike road, and near what 
was then known as Carroll's Upper Mills, on Gwynn's 
Falls. Through the middle of the field runs, from 
north to south, a ridge of an elevation of perhaps thirty 
feet; in the centre, and on the summit of which was 
erected a pavilion for the reception of Charles Carroll 
of Carrolton, the President and Directors of the Rail- 
road Company, the Engineers, the Mayor and City 
Council and the Orator of the day. Among the guests 
on the pavilion were also the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives of the United States, Governor Coles 
of Indiana, the members of Congress and State Legis- 
lature, the Cincinnati Society, Revolutionary Soldiers, 
Colonel Genier and General Devereux. On the south 
side of the pavilion and along the line of the ridge was 
stationed the cavalry. In front of the stand towards 
the east and on the brow of the ridge was the excava- 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 269 

tion for the reception of the foundation stone, beneath 
which, and parallel with the ridge, lay a long level 
plain, in which the procession formed on its arrival, 
facing towards the pavilion. The cars were drawn 
up in a body on the left, and inclined towards the rear 
of the pavilion. The Masonic bodies formed a large 
hollow square round the foundation stone. The spec- 
tacle presented from the pavilion was gay and splendid 
in a very high degree. 

The ceremonies were commenced by a prayer from 
the Rev. Dr. Wyatt, Masonic Grand Chaplain, the 
vast audience uncovering their heads; when Upton 
S. Heath, Esq., after an eloquent preface, read the 
Declaration of Independence. The Carrolton March, 
composed by Mr. Clifton, being then performed, Mr. 
John B. Morris delivered a practical address on behalf 
of the President and Directors of the Company. ^Ye 
have not space for the entire speech, but will give the 
following significant extract : 

'' The result of our labors will be felt not only by ourselves, 
but also by posterity — not only by Baltimore, but al?o by Mary- 
land and by the United States. We are about opening a channel 
through which the commerce of tho mighty country beyond the 
Alleghany must seek the ocean. "We are about affording facili- 
ties of intercourse between the East and the West which will 
bind the one more closely to the other, beyond the power of an 
increased population or sectional differences to obviate. We are 
in fact commencing a new era in our history ; for there are none 
present who can doubt the great and beneficial influence which 
the intended road will have in promoting the agriculture, manu- 
facture and inland commerce of our country. It is but a few years 
since the introduction of steamboats effected powerful changes, 
and made those neighbors who before were far distant from each 



270 MEMOIRS OF 

other. Of a similar and equally important effect will be the Bal- 
timore and Ohio Eailroad. While the one will have stemmed 
the torrent of the Mississippi, the other will have surmounted 
and reduced the heights of the Alleghany ; and those obstacles 
before considered insuperable, will have ceased to be so, as the 
ingenuity and industry of man shall have been exerted to over- 
come them. Fifty-two years since, he who is this day to lay the 
first stone of the Great Road was among a band of fearless and 
noble spirits who resolved and declared that freedom which has 
been transmitted unimpaired to us. The existence which he con- 
tributed to give to the United States on the 4th of July, 1776, he 
perpetuates on the 4th of July, 1828. Ninety-one summers have 
passed over him. Those who stood with him in the Hall of Inde- 
pendence, have left him solitary upon earth — ' the father of his 
country.' In the full possession of his powers, with his feelings 
still buoyant and warm, he now declares that the proudest act of 
his life, and the most important in its consequences to his country, 
was the signature of Independence ; the next, the laying of the 
first stone of the work which is to perpetuate the union of the 
American States ; to make the East and the West as one house- 
hold in the facilities of intercourse and the feelings of mutual 
afifection. Long may he live, cherished and beloved by his 
country, a noble relic of the past, a bright example of the pres- 
ent time." 

On the conclusion of the address, two boys dressed 
as Mercuries, advanced to the canopy, and prayed that 
the printers might be furnished with a copy of the 
address just delivered, that they might be printed and 
distributed to the people. 

The deputation from the Blacksmiths' Asssocia- 
tion, advancing, presented Mr. Carroll the pick, 
spade, stone-hammer and trowel, prepared by them 
for the occasion, accompanying the presentation with 
an address. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 271 

A deputation from the Stone Cutters now came for- 
ward, and the car containing the foundation stone was 
drawn to the spot. 

While the stone was being prepared, Mr. Carroll, 
accompanied by the Grand Marshal of the day and by 
Mr. John B. Morris, and bearing in his hand the spade 
just presented, descended from the pavilion and ad- 
vanced to the spot selected for the reception of the first 
stone in order to strike the spade into the ground. He 
walked with a firm step, and used the instrument with 
a steady hand ; verifying the prediction in the song 
published recently for the occasion : 

" The hand that held the pen 
Never falters, hut again 
Is employed with the spade 
To assist his fellow-men." 

The stone was then dexterously removed from the 
wagon, in which it had been conveyed to the ground, 
and placed in its bed. 

The Grand Master of Maryland, attended by the P. 
G. Chaplain of Maryland and by the Grand Masters of 
Pennsylvania and Virginia, then applied his instru- 
ments to the stone, and after handing them for the 
same purpose to the other Grand Masters and receiv- 
ing the favorable report, pronounced it " well formed, 
true and trusty." The Grand Chaplain invoked the 
benediction of Heaven upon the success of the enter- 
prise, the prosperity of the city and the future life of 
the venerable man who had assisted in laying the stone. 



272 MEMOIRS OF 

The ceremony was concluded in the usual manner, 
by pounng wine and oil and scattering corn upon the 
stone, with a corresponding invocation and response, 
followed by the grand Masonic honors. The follow- 
ing is the inscription : 

THIS STONE, 

Presented by the Stone Cutters of Baltimore 

In commemoration of the commencenrent of the Baltimore and 

Ohio Kailroad, 

Was here placed on the 4th of July, 1828, by the 

Grand Lodge or Marylakd, 

Of the Declaration of American Independence 52d year, 

And under the direction of the President and Directors of the 

Baltimore axd Ohio Eailroad Company. 

On each side of the stone was this inscription : 

Pirst Stone 
Of the Baltimore and Ohio Eailroad. 

In a cavity of the stone was deposited a glass cyl- 
inder, hermetically sealed, containing a copy of the 
Charter, dated February, 28th, 1827, and Act of In- 
corporation, as granted by the States of Maryland, 
Virginia and Pennsylvania; and the newspapers of 
the day, together with a scroll on which was written 
the object of the road, &c., <S:c., with the names of the 
surveyors, engineers and those of the Board of Direc- 
tors, which latter are as follows, viz : Philip Evan 
Thomas, President; Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 
William Patterson, Robert Oliver, Alexander Brown, 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 273 

Isaac McKim, AVilliani Lorraan, George Hoffman, 
John B. Morris, Talbot Jones, William Steuart, Solo- 
mon Etting and Patrick Macau ly. George Brown, 
Treasurer. 

A national salute was then fired by the artillery 
stationed on a ncldiborino; hill to the north. 



The Civic Procession 

Was headed by Captain Cox^s troop, "The First 
Baltimore Hussaus," followed by the Pioneers 
with the implements of labor, and the Masonic Fra- 
ternity. 

In an elegant landaulette and four were seated the . 
venerable Charles Carroll of Carrolton and 
General Samuel SxMITH, United States Senator of 
Maryland. 

A train of barouches with the different deputations, 
which were many, then the Farmers and Planters on 
foot, followed by the Trades, each having a large car, 
and plying their vocations most energetically on the 
route. About six thousand artizens were in line with 
their mottoes, &c., &c. 

An Incident. The hatters presented Mr. Carroll 
and General Smith each with an elegant beaver hat, 
made by Joseph Branson. 

The tailors presented Mr. Carroll with a coat made 
on the route. 

June 16th, 1830. From a communication addressed 
to the Mayor and City Council by P. E. Thomas, Esq., 



274 MEMOIRS OF 

President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, we 
make the following extract: 

The first division of the road, extending about thirteen miles, 
is now in operation, and although only one set of tracks is com- 
pleted, the receipts of the company average about $1000 per 
week ; and there is every prospect that this amount will continue 
to increase, especially as in a very few weeks the second division 
will be in a situation of travel, and will extend the road to about 
double its present length. The second set of tracks upon the first 
division will also be very soon finished, when the company will 
commenoe the transportation of produce and merchandise, of 
which very considerable quantities are already offered." 

Simultaneous with this, appears the following adver- 
tisement : 



•Office of the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. Co., 
Juue 16th, 1831), 



':■■} 



" The following arrangements are made for the transportation 
of passengers on the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad between Balti- 
more and Ellicott's Mills, and will commence on Friday morning, 
the 25th inst. 

" Prom the depot on Pratt street there will start : 
*'A train of carriages at 9 o'clock, A. M. 
" '' " 3 o'clock, P. M. 

A way carriage 6 o'clock, P. M., &c. 

*' Persons who are desirous of obtaining seats, are requested 
to be punctual, as the carriages will start precisely at the time 
stated." Eound trip only 75 cents. 

It must be borne in mind that horses only were used 
at this time. Forty-four years have elapsed, and now 
read the following : 

1874. Mr. Morris lives to see his speech practically 
verified. Mr. Morris is the last surviving member of 
the above Board of Directors. Before we close this 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 275 

subject, we would call the attention of the reader to 
the magnitude of the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad 
Company's operations, by referring briefly to a few 
items alone. 

1st. The company has in cars of all descriptions no 
less than eleven thousand one hundred and fifty, and 
five hundred and thirteen locomotives! The total miles 
run by locomotives in 1873 numbered twelve million 
one hundred and twelve thousand eight hundred and 
eighty-six ! Last fiscal year the earnings amounted to 
$15,693,198.46; expenses, $10,141,622.62— net earn- 
ings, $5,551,575.84. We believe the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad to be the best managed railroad in the 
United States, and the model railroad company of the 
country, in which there is a total of more than sixty 
thousand miles of railroad tracks. 

Cholera made its appearance in Baltimore August 
31st, 1832, previously prevailing in Boston, New 
York, Philadelphia, ISorfolk and Portsmouth, Vir- 
ginia, and other places. Mortality great. 

The population of Baltimore at this time was about 
seventy thousand. 



276 MEMOIRS OF 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Morse's Telegraph — Reception of Kossuth. 

It was in May, 1844, that the first message was 
communicated through Morse's telegraph from Wash- 
ington to Baltimore by Miss Annie Ellsworth, daugh- 
ter of the Commissioner of Patents, the words being: 
" What hath God wrought ! " Although the 
general reader is familliar with the telegraph, yet we 
believe that this most wonderful invention merits more 
than a mere passing notice on this page. In 1835 
Professor Morse completed a rude apparatus, all made 
by himself, with an experimental wire of half a mile 
around a room, but this only transmitted in one direc- 
tion. By 1837 he had ready an improved apparatus, 
which he exhibited at one of the rooms in the Yale 
University. This year he went to Washington, filed 
his caveat, and asked for a Congressional appropriation 
for a line thence to Baltimore. The session passed 
without action, and he went abroad. England refused 
him a patent, Wheatstone having in the meantime 
gone to work. In France he obtained a brevet d^inven- 
tion. But he met with little encouragement abroad, 
and came back to struggle through poverty and ridi- 
cule for four long years. Session after session he per- 
severed. His bill was amended by Congressional wits 
to include experiments in Mesmerism and 3Iillerism, the 
chair refusing to rule out the absurd amendment on 
the plea that " it would require a scientific analysis to 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 277 

determine how far the niagnetism of Mesmerism was 
analogous to that to be emyloyed in the telegraph/^ 
How remarkably witty ! At last came the day, closing 
the session of 1843. On the evening of March the 3d, 
Professor Morse gave up all hope of immediate success 
in Congress, and returned to his hotel, to start for New 
York the next day. At the midnight hour of the 
expiring session, by a vote of eighty-nine to eighty- 
seven, the bill was passed ! and in the morning the 
inventor knew the dawn which follows the darkest 
hour. It happened that during the entire last day of 
the session, Mr. Morse watched the course of legisla- 
tion from the gallery with an anxiety probably shared 
by few of the eager expectants, who from their places in 
the gallery above, hung with anxious solicitude upon the 
measures in which they were especially interested upon 
the floor of the Senate. At length, worn out by the 
interminable discussion of some Senator who seemed to 
be speaking against time, and overcome by his pro- 
longed watching, he left the gallery at a late hour and 
returned to his lodgings, under the belief that it was 
not possible his bill could be reached, and that he must 
again turn his attention to those labors of the brush 
and easel, by means of which he might be enabled to 
prosecute appeals to Congress at a future time. He 
accordingly made his preparations to return to Xew 
York, as above stated, and retiring to rest, sank into a 
profound slumber, from which he did not awake until 
a late hour on the following morning. But a short 
time after, while seated at the breakfast table, the ser- 
vant announced that a lady desired to see him. Upon 



278 MEMOIRS OF 

entering the parlor, he encountered Miss Annie Ells- 
worth, the daughter of the Commissioner of Patents, 
whose face was all aglow with pleasure. 

" I have come to congratulate you,'' she remarked, 
as he entered the room, and approached to shake hands 
with her. 

" To congratulate me ! " replied Mr. Morse, " and 
for what?'' 

" Why, upon the passage of your bill, to be sure," 
she replied. 

" You must surely be mistaken, for I left at a late 
hour, and its fate seemed inevitable." 

" Indeed, I am not mistaken," she rejoined ; " father 
remained until the close of the session, and your bill 
was the very last one that was acted on, and I begged 
permission to convey to you the news. I am so happy 
that I am the first to tell you." 

The feelings of Mr. Morse may be better imagined 
than described. He grasped his young companion 
warmly by the hand, and thanked her over and over 
again for the joyful intelligence. "As a reward," con- 
cluded he, " for being the first bearer of the news, you 
shall send over the telegraph the first message it con- 
veys." 

"I will hold you to that promise," replied she. 
" Remember." 

" Remember," responded Mr. Morse ; and they 
parted. 

By the month of May, 1844, the whole line was 
laid, and the magnets and recording instruments were 
attached to the ends of the wires at Mount Clare 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 279 

Depot, and at the Supreme Court chamber in the 
Capitol at Washington. When the circuit was com- 
plete, and the signal at one end of the line was re- 
sponded to by the operator at the other, Mr. Morse 
sent a message to Miss Ellsworth to inform her that 
the telegraph awaited her message. She speedily 
responded to this, and sent for transmission the mes- 
sage as above stated, being the first formal dispatch 
ever sent through a telegraphic wire connecting remote 
places with each other. 

The original of the message is now in the archives 
of the Historical Society at Hartford, Connecticut. It 
was in 1842 the first submarine cable was laid by him, 
across New York harbor, winning the gold medal of 
the American Institute. Mr. Morse's letter to the 
Secretary of the Treasury, 10th of August, 1843, con- 
tained the first suggestion of the Atlantic telegraph. 
Honors were poured in upon him. In 1851 a con- 
vention to select a uniform system for all Germany, 
adopted his. In 1857 the representatives of the chief 
European powers assembled at Paris, presented him 
with 400,000 francs on account of his invention. Yale 
made him a Doctor of Laws. France enrolled him in 
her Legion of Honor. Austria, the German States, 
Denmark, Turkey, gave him their highest honors. 
His fame followed the wires till the globe was girdled. 
He has also been the recipient of honorary banquets in 
London and Paris, and New York. One of the latest 
honors paid to him, was the erection of his statue in 
Central Park, New York, the summer of 1871. At 
that time, delegates from the telegraphic fraternity of 



280 MEMOIRS OF 

the entire country assembled in New York to do honor 
to the man who had done so much for his race. Dis- 
patches were received from Calcutta, from San Fran- 
cisco, and from hundreds of other intermediate places, 
all uniting in the general strain of thanks and gratula- 
tions. On the 22d of February, 1872, he was selected 
as the fittest one to unveil the statue of Franklin in 
Printing House Square, New York. 

Professor Samuel Finley Breese Morse was born 
within sight of Bunker Ilill Monument, April 27th, 
1791. Died April 2d, 1872, at his residence. No. 5 
"West Twenty-second street. New York, in his eighty- 
first year. 

The 27th Congress appropriated $30,000 — this w^as 
thirty-one years ago. The appropriation was to meet 
the expenses for putting up the wires for the distance 
of about thirty-six miles. Now in 1874 — in America 
the telegraph system embraces eighty-five thousand 
five hundred and eighty-three miles of line, one hun- 
dred and sixty-five thousand eight hundred and sev- 
enty-five miles of wire, eight thousand six hundred 
and fifty- five sets of instruments, and six thousand 
seven hundred and fifty-five offices ! This is some- 
thing belov/ the full estimate. In Europe the system 
embraces one hundred and seventy-five thousand four 
hundred and ninety miles of line, four hundred and 
seventy-five thousand and seven miles of wire, twenty- 
one thousand one hundred and forty-six sets of in- 
struments, and fifteen thousand five hundred and 
three offices! — involving expenditures amounting to 
$19,675,487. So the reader will at once see what 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 281 

the paltry appropriation of $30,000 has accomplished. 
It is with pleasure we record the following : 

Action of Congress, 1872. 

" In the House of Representatives Mr. Cox, of New 
York City, offered a concurrent resolution which was 
agreed to, declaring that Congress has heard with pro- 
found regret of the death of Professor Morse, whose dis- 
tinguished and varied abilities have contributed more 
than those of any other person to the development and 
progress of the practical arts, and that his purity of 
private life, his loftiness of scientific aims, and his 
resolute faith in truth, render it highly proper that 
the Representatives and Senators should solemnly tes- 
tify to his worth and greatness.'^ 

" Mr. Wood, of New York City, gave a brief his- 
tory of the legislation under which Professor ^Morse's 
invention was practically tested in the United States. 
He (Mr. AVood) was a member of the 27th Congress 
to which Professor Morse made application for aid to 
test his invention. It was in the winter of 1842 and 
1843, when Mr. Morse came to Washington in a state 
of pecuniary dependence, broken down by disappoint- 
ment and almost entirely discouraged. With great 
difficulty the proposition appropriating $30,000 was 
got through the House by a vote of eighty-nine to 
eighty-seven. It was with great pride that he (Mr. 
Wood) found his name recorded in the affirmative, and 
he was to-day the only living member of the House 
who voted in favor of the bill. With that small 
13* 



282 MEMOIRS OF 

appropriation the first wires were stretched between 
Baltimore and Washington, which tested and proved 
the entire practicability of the invention which Pro- 
fessor Morse had struggled so long to make a practical 



Reception of Louis Kossuth. 

It was on the 3d of October, 1851, news arrived in 
the United States, announcing that Louis Kossuth, 
the Hungarian patriot, had been released from prison 
and that he was possibly far out upon the sounding 
sea, once more breathing the air of liberty and antici- 
pating those scenes consecrated to its political develop- 
ment upon the soil of the United States. The character 
of Kossuth, while it partakes of national peculiarity 
to which we are accustomed, commands universal ad- 
miration. His management of the Hungarian contest 
was worthy of a better result, and himself entitled to 
the honors of a hero and the fame of a consummate 
military chieftain. He struggled, however, with im- 
mense odds, when the Russians took the field with 
Austria, and demonstrated the 'common design of a 
relentless despotism. With treachery amongst those 
who had been trusted with the great interests of the 
revolution, and with a fierce, remorseless foe hemming 
him in on every side, Kossuth had no alternative but 
to seek protection of Turkey, and at the same time to 
abandon perhaps the land and the people for whose 
welfare he had perilled his all of life, of fortune and of 
fame. To us he brought in his name, and his brave 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 283 

deeds, a claim to that honest sympatliy which it seems 
to be the privilege of this country to extend to the 
worthy and the oppressed of every clime. He had been 
suffered to come to America. What a world of mean- 
ing there was in this ! 

December 15th, 1851. Congress passed a resolution, 
giving him in behalf of the people of the United 
States a cordial welcome to the capital. 

Saturday, December 27th. Kossuth arrived in Bal- 
timore by the afternoon train from Philadelphia in 
company of the committee of citizens who had been 
deputised to meet him in Philadelphia, to tender him 
the hospitalities of Baltimore city. 

Notwithstanding the extreme inclemency of the 
weather, the people were out in the majesty of their 
strength, to give expression to the feelings which could 
not be chilled by frost as cold as that of Russia herself. 
Thousands of people were congregated in the vicinity 
of Broadway and Canton avenue, extending several 
squares along the latter, and up to Baltimore street in 
the former. Flags were hung out from the public 
places in the vicinity. 

Upon his arrival, he took his seat in a barouche ap- 
propriated for his use in company with Mayor Jerome 
and Judge Legrand. Madame Kossuth and Madame 
Pulzsky, Avith Colonel Pulzsky and suite, number- 
ing eleven in all, were also seated in carriages and 
barouches amid the cheering of the multitude. Kos- 
suth rose in the barouche, and Avith his hat off, bowed 
his acknowledgment to the immense assemblage. The 
military passed before him in review, and took their 



28-i 



MEMOIRS OF 



position in line as the escort. The barouche, drawn by 
six beautiful horses, with several carriages containing 
the various committees, members of the City Council, 
&c., followed on, and was succeeded by the civic part 
of the procession, which completed the line. Arrived 
at the Eutaw House, Kossuth, with Madame Kossuth 
and Madame Pulzsky, Colonel Pulzsky and suite, en- 
tered the parlors, and after a brief interval, Kossuth 
appeared on the portico over the principal entrance, 
when he was greeted by the wildest and most unre- 
strained shouts of enthusiasm by the great multitude, 
which made the air resound. He then delivered a most 
eloquent, soul-stirring speech, accompanied with a dis- 
tinctness of utterance that took the people by surprise; 
and no wonder, for he had acquired a knowledge of our 
language by self-culture during his three years^ impris- 
onment, as "\ve heard him say in his address to a com- 
mittee of the clergy on the subsequent day. 

In the evening there was a great demonstration of 
the people in a torchlight procession, followed by a 
tremendous meeting at the Maryland Institute, where 
he was welcomed in an address by Mayor Jerome, to 
whom he responded in another brilliant speech. This 
was followed by eloquent ones from Governor Lowe, 
William P. Preston, Judge Legrand, and others. 

In New York and Philadelphia he had been pre- 
viously welcomed in a like spirit. 



COLONEL ELIJAH STAXSBURY. 285 



CHAPTER XXI IT, 
R E y I E W — C ONCLUSION. 

1774. Population of Baltimore was five thousand 
nine hundred — about the same as that of Woodberry, 
the beautiful little town on Jones^ Falls, opposite 
Druid Hill Park. 1874. Population of Baltimore is 
more than three hundred thousand. 1774. The streets 
were not even paved, nor lighted by oil lamps at night, 
until 1784, when pursuant to law, lamps were used, 
and fourteen watchmen and three constables a])pointed 
by the Town Commissioners. In 1874, by tiie new 
law, the police force consists of five hundred men, four 
captains, eight lieutenants and eight turnkeys, and our 
city lighted with gas; Baltimore, in 1817, being the 
first in the United States to use it. 1774. No public 
library; but in 1822 an Apprentices' Library on a 
very small scale was inaugurated. 1874. We have 
the Maryland Institute Library, sixteen thousand 
volumes, one thousand readers weekly; the Peabody 
Institute, fifty thousand volumes; Mercantile Library 
Association, twenty-eight thousand volumes; Mary- 
land Historical Society, twelve thousand volumes. 
There was in 1774 only one weekly paper — now we 
have the Baltimore Daily American, the oldest, bearing 
that name for seventy-six years ; the Baltimore Sun 
next, thirty-seven years old; the Baltimore Gazette, first 



28 G MEMOIRS OF 

started as the Exchange sixteen years ago — being three 
of the most enterprising in the United States, and in a 
moral point of view, the best in the country; then the 
German Correspondent, thirty-four years old, compet- 
ing in every respect with any other German paper in 
the land; next the Southern 3Iagazine, ^^ Maryland Far- 
mer ^^ and ^^ American Farmer,^ monthlies; four ably 
edited weeklies, viz: the Balthnorean, Telegram, Satur- 
day Night and Bulletin. There were then (1774) but 
six churches — now two hundred and four. 1774. No 
water supplied by the authorities — now we have Lake 
Roland, capacity of five hundred millions gallons ; 
Hampden Reservoir, fifty millions ; Mount Royal, 
thirty millions; Druid Hill Lake, four hundred and 
ninety-three millions; and, when finished, the Gunpow- 
der Water Works will exceed any similar enterprise in 
the world. Conduit will pass one hundred and seventy 
millions gallons daily ! We have nine public squares, 
two beautiful parks, viz: Patterson and Druid Hill, the 
latter acknowledged to be for natural scenery the most 
beautiful one in the country, containing seven hundred 
acres, or twelve times the size of the original plat of 
Baltimore. 1774. But one fire engine, worked by 
hand; cost $264 — now ten steam engines in service, 
two in reserve; four building, including the harbor 
steamer, and one truck; one hundred and sixty men to 
work them. Three hook and ladder trucks. We have 
also a Salvage Corps, composed of eight efficient men. 
Our Fire Department is conceeded to be in every 
respect the best in the country. Yearly expense about 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 287 

$146,000. 1774. Some six schools — but now one 
Jiundred and twenty-two public schools; six hundred 
and fourteen teachers. On roll, over twenty-six thou- 
sand three hundred and seventy-five pupils. Number 
of pupils in school during the year, thirty-nine thou- 
sand nine hundred and eighteen. Besides a very large 
number of private schools, and day and boarding schools 
for young ladies, equal to any in the country. We also 
have some fifty benevolent institutions.* Of course there 
were no railroads then, nor canals — but now the Balti- 
more and Ohio Railroad spreads its constantly increasing 
connections over the whole of the Western country, and 
as far as California, while its southern branch through 
Washington connects throughout the Southern States, 
and as far as New Orleans. The railway communications 
extend by the Northern Central Road north and west 
to the Lakes and Canada ; the Philadelphia, AVilming- 
ton and Baltimore Road to all parts of the Northern 
and Eastern States. Of the local roads, there are the 
Western Maryland, extending through the rich farm- 
lands of Carroll, Frederick and Washington counties 
to Hagerstown, and projected to Williamsport, on the 
Potomac river; and the Baltimore and Potomac, open- 
ing up a fertile country hitherto inaccessible by rail ; 
the Baltimore and Drum Point Railroad, now in course 



*When its present benevolent object will have been accomplished, it is 
contemplated to convert the '-Uxiox Orphan Astlum," into a " Child's Hos- 
pital," to be managed ty the ladies of Baltimore of all denominations. 
The Kelso Home, for Orphans of the 3Iethodist Episcopal Church, founded in 
1873— now in operation. The "Aged Women's Home" is to be enlarged, so as 
to accommodate thirty more inmates. 



^OO MEMOIRS OF 

of construction ; the Union Railroad which, making 
almost the entire circuit of the city of Baltimore, will 
afford the means for prompt connection between the 
various railways that enter the city; the City Pas- 
senger Railways number twelve; also the Chesa- 
peake and Ohio Canal, and the Susquehanna Canal. 
1774. There were no banks, till 1790 the Bank of 
Maryland was incorporated — now we have about 
twenty-three, with an aggregate capital of, we pre- 
sume, from $14,000,000 to $15,000,000, besides eight 
Savings Banks. Nor were there any insurance com- 
panies; but in 1785 Hercules Courtenay, Esq., issued 
policies that were subscribed by merchants and other 
individuals — now we have thirteen local fire insur- 
ance companies, besides numerous foreign companies. 
Our City Hall is the most magnificent one in the 
country. Dimensions 238 by 149 feet; base of dome 
52 feet 6 inches in diameter; height of dome 117 feet 
to lantern on top, in which will be four electric clocks; 
whole height, from grade to top of lantern, 227 feet — 
flag pole to be 40 feet high. The general style of archi- 
tecture is Renaissance. The front portico and lower 
part of dome are of the Composite style. This noble 
structure will be occupied January 1st, 1875 — George 
A. Frederick, Architect. The Young Men's Christian 
Association Building is another magnificent structure, 
now in course of erection. Front on Saratoga street 
182 feet, on Charles street 130 feet; height from grade 
to the tops of the two towers 115 feet; 1st floor, five 
stores; 2d floor, four rooms and a main hall, which 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 289 

will accommodate twelve hundred persons; 3J floor, 
four rooms and library ; 4th floor, three rooms, gymna- 
sium, bath room, &g.; Mansard roof. Style of archi- 
tecture Composite — Niernsee & Xeilson, Architects. 
The principal benefactors of the city: CoLOXEL John 
Eager Howard, John Oliver, Isaac McKim, 
John McDonogh, Moses Sheppard, George Pea- 
body, Alex. Lorman, Samuel Ready, Thomas 
Kelso and Johns Hopkins, Esqs., Mr. Kelso being 
the only one now living. His name is recorded on 
page 266, among the few surviving "Old Defenders,'^ 
aged ninety, and still surprisingly active. 

We submit the following as an argument for those 
who favor the law now before the Legislature, look- 
ing to the extension of the city limits. Allowing Bal- 
timore a population of two hundred and seventy-five 
thousand in 1870, with an average percentage increase 
of 19.77 per each decade from 1870 to 1970, in ninety- 
six years from this her population will be one million 
six hundred and twenty-five thousand ; Charles street 
bridge perhaps being about the centre of our pros- 
perous and rapidly growing city. 



14 



290 MEMOIRS OF 

The following, as a special favor, was furnished us 
by an old and tried friend, Samuel Sands, Esq., in 
advance of the April number of the American Farmer 
of 1874. 



A "Reminiscence" of the War of 1812. 

Bt/ the Senior Editor of the American Farmer. 

The following paper was prepared by request, about 
a year ago, but mislaid. It was intended for insertion 
in another journal, but as it is possible we may follow 
it up with some other reminiscences of the "olden 
time," we have determined to give it in our own 
pages, as we have many old time friends still linger- 
ing on the stage of life, who may feel interested 
therein. 

We at first thought that the main point in the state- 
ment given below was of such minor importance, that 
we could not spare room for its insertion ; but inas- 
much as the late distinguished Chief Justice of the 
Supreme Court of the United States, to whose honor 
his native State has just placed a statue in its Capital, 
deemed it not unworthy of his pen to throw what light 
he could upon the early publication of our favorite 
National Song, written by one of Maryland's sous, and 
published in the city so deeply interested in the events 
so glowingly presented, we have deemed it our duty 
to give our testimony in relation to the same matter ; 
and this we do the more readily, as it is more than 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 291 

probable that we are alone left of those who were 
directly connected with the original publication of the 
song. 

"The Star Spangled Banner."* 

Our name ha vino; of late been connected with the 
original publication of this National song, we have 
been requested by the editor of the American His- 
torical Review, (Mr. Lossing,) and others, to give our 
recollections of its first appearance in print — and as a 
statement which appeared in the " Review " for Janu- 
ary, 1873, in regard to it, is certainly incorrect in some 
particulars, we have determined to present the follow- 
ing facts in relation thereto, as far as our memory 
serves. 

During the attack on Baltimore by the British, on 
the 12th of September, 1814, we were an apprentice 
in the office of the ^^Araerican ; " we were but fourteen 
years old at the time, and consequently too young to 
bear arms. The paper was suspended during the time 
the enemy was in our front, and all the hands capable 
of bearing arms were with the troops, either at North 
Point, or in the batteries and entrenchments on Lou- 



* The "Star Spangled Banner" was composed under the following cir- 
cumstances. The author visited the British fleet with a flag of truce for the 
purpose of getting released from the enemy's custody a friend of his, Dr. 
Bene, who had been captured at Upper Marlborough, Maryland. Jlr. Key 
was not permitted to return, lest the intended attack on Baltimore should 
be disclosed. He watched the flag at Fort McHenry during the whole day 
with great anxiety, till the night prevented him from seeing it. During the 
night he was eagerly observant of the bombshells, and at early dawn his 
enraptured eye was once more greeted by the flag of his country. A. H. 



292 MEMOIRS OF 

denslager's Hill, east of the city. We do not remember 
of any other of the hands being about the office during 
the suspension of the publication, until after the Brit- 
ish fleet left our immediate vicinity. Our time, of 
course, was taken up in loitering about, and occasion- 
ally visiting " the boys ^' in the army, at their posts. 
After the battle was fought, and the enemy had with- 
drawn their land forces from our shores, having lost 
their Commander-in-Chief, General Ross, who was 
killed, as it was believed, by Wells and McComas, two 
of the members of the First Baltimore Sharpshooters, 
commanded by Captain Aisquith, the British fleet 
moved farther down the bay. We would here remark 
that Ross was in advance of his troops, reconnoitering 
our position, and the sharpshooters (a rifle corps) were 
stationed in advance of our army, in ambush. The 
source from whence their fire emanated, was quickly 
discerned by Ross' guard, who fired in that direction 
and killed the two gallant young riflemen who had 
shot the British General. 

Mr. Thomas Murphy, one of the editors of the 
American^ who belonged to Aisquith's Company, ob- 
tained leave of absence to return home to arrange for 
the reissuing of the paper; but before the re-com- 
mencement thereof, he received the copy of the song 
and placed it in our hands to put in type. It has now 
been nearly sixty years since these events took place, but 
our recollection has ever been quite vivid, that the copy 
thus received was considered at the time as the original 
manuscript. Without having ever made any inquiry 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 293 

upon the subject of Mr. J. S. Skinner, with whom we 
were in after years on intimate terms in connection 
with the publication of the American Farmery yet we 
had gotten the impression upon our mind, that it was 
that gentleman who brought the copy to the office from 
Mr. Key — but having had the perusal of a vohime of 
the poems of Mr. Key, the author of the song, pub- 
lished in 1857, by the late Rev. H. V. D. Johns, D. D., 
of this city, we find that we were under a wrong impres- 
sion upon that point; both of these gentlemen having 
been detained by the British on board their cartel dur- 
ing the bombardment. We never professed to know 
who had brought it to the American office, yet from 
some cause we had it fixed upon our mind, that it was 
Mr. Skinner; an introductory letter to the v(>lume 
alluded to above, however, written by the late Chief 
Justice Taney, detailing the circumstances connected 
with the writing of the song, shows that Mr. Key, 
when he reached the city, after the enemy had retired 
from our waters, handed it to Judge Nicholson, a rela- 
tive by marriage, to advise with him as to its publica- 
tion. The Judge being much pleased with it, "sent it 
to a printer," says Judge Taney, "and ordered copies to 
be struck off in handbill form, which were distributed 
to Ihe public,^^ and adds that Mr. Key "believed it to 
have been favorably received by the Baltimore public." 
No allusion is made in this narrative of Judge Taney 
as to the office to which it was sent for publication; but 
Mr. Lossing, in his Historical Record referred to above, 
attempts to supply the omission by saying that Judge 



14* 



294 MEMOIRS OF 

JS^icholson "took it to the office of Captain Benjamin 
Edes, on the corner of Baltimore and Gay streets/^ and 
that '' his ap])rentice, Samuel Sands, who was living in 
Biiltiraore a few years ago, set up the song in type, 
printed it, and distributed it among the citizens/^ 

There are other circumstances given in connection 
with its first publication, which induces us to believe 
that the copy which Mr. Lossing had before him was 
not one of the originals, but was subsequently printed 
after it had issued from the office of the American, 
In the first place, we were never connected with the 
office of Mr. Edes, nor do we remember that the office 
of that gentleman ever was at the corner of Baltimore 
and Gay streets, as stated by Mr. Lossing; we were at 
the time an apprentice at the office of the American, 
which was then located at No. 4 on the east side of 
Harrison street, but several years afterwards, it was 
removed to the south-west corner of Gay and Balti- 
more streets. Captain Edes' office at one time, we 
remember, was at the north-east corner of Baltimore 
and Calvert streets. 

We have before us a memorandum, taken from an 
authentic source, in which it is shown that a discrep- 
ancy exists in a line of the song, which at first we could 
not account for. It is stated that, as originally written, 
in the third line of the first stanza it reads thus : 

" Whose broad stripes aud bright stars, through the clouds of the fight" 

whereas in the first printed copies, and ever since 
recognized as the correct version, it reads: 

*' "Whose broad stripes aud bright stars, through the perilous fight." 



COLONEL iELIJAH STANSBURY. 295 

The narrative of Judge Taney, we think, explains 
this discrepancy. He asked Mr. Key when he first 
read the song, "How he found time, in the scenes he 
had been passing through, to compose such a song?" 
To which Mr. Key replied, "he had written some lines 
or brief notes, that would aid hira in calling them to 
mind, upon the back of a letter which he happened to 
have in his pocket; and for some of the lines, as he 
proceeded, he was obliged to rely altogether on his 
memory; and that he finished it in the boat on his 
way to the shore, and wrote it out as it now stands, 
at the hotel the night after he reached Baltimore, 
immediately after he arrived,'^ and the next morning 
he showed it to Judge Nicholson, who sent it to the 
printer, as already stated — and no doubt the line first 
quoted above was the original as written on the back 
of the letter, and afterwards the language was changed, 
and it has ever since been accepted as it appears in the 
second line, as quoted above. This at least is our 
theory of the matter. 

We give on this page as appropriate, a very small 
list of tlie large number of prominent and useful citi- 
zens who have died within the last fifty-five years. 

Hon. Wm. Pinknc}-, February 25tb, 1822; Colonel John Ea2:er 
Howard, October Tith, 1827, aged seventy-five years; General 
Benj. C. Howard, March 6th, 1872, aged eighty-one years; Hon. 
Judge John Purviance, September 23d, 1854, aged eighty-ono 
years; Hon. William Wirt, February 15, 1854; Hon. Roger B. 
Taney, Chief Justice, October 12th, 18G4, aged eighty-seven years; 
James Mason Campbell, June 21st, 18G9, aged fifty-nine yexirs; 



296 MEMOIRS OP 

Rev. Jnmes Ingliss, August 15th, 1819, aged forty-four years; 
Ecv. John Glendy, D. D., October 4th, 1832; Rev. J. H. W. Haw- 
kins, the well known temperance lecturer, August 25th, 1858, aged 
sixty-one years; Rev. Wm. Nevins, September ]4ih, 1835; Rev. 
John M. Duncan, D. D., the distinguished pulpit orator, April 
30tb, 1851, aged sixty-one years; Francis S. Ke}-, author of the 
"Star Spangled Banner," January llth, 1843, aged sixty-four 
years; Hon. John P. Kennedy, August 18th, 1870, aged sevent}'- 
five years; Rev. H. V. D. Johns, D. D., April 22d, 1859; Hon. John 
Van Lear McMahon, June 15th, 1871, aged seventy-two years ; Rt. 
Rev. Archbishop Spalding, February 7th, 1872, aged sixty years; 
Rev. Arch'd Hawkins, March 28th, 1851, aged eighty-five years; 
J. J. Cohen, April Gth, 1869, aged eighty years; Solomon Etti..g, 
August Clh, 1847, aged eighty-four years; Charles Carroll of 
Carrolton, November 14th, 1832, aged ninety-live j'ears ; George 
Brown, August 15th, 1859, aged seventN'-two years; Rev. George 
B. Schaeffer, September 14th, 1828, aged twenty-eight years; 
John Rodgers, first President Maryhind Institute, November 23d, 
18G1, aged seventy-six years ; Robert A. Dobbin, of the American, 
September, 1862; Alexander Brown, April 4th, 1834; Hon. Mil- 
lard Fillmore, Ex- President, March 8th, 1874, aged seventy four 
years; Hon. Charles Sumner, March llth, 1874, aged sixty-three 
years; Prof. Louis Jean Rodolphe Agassiz, December 14th, 1873, 
aged sixty-seven years ; Thomas D. Baird, A. M., Principal City 
College, July 9th, 1873, aged sixty-two years. 

In concluding this imperfect volume, embracing 
the biography of our venerable and esteemed friend, 
we would remark that Colonel Elijah Stansbury is a 
gentleman ever alive to social intercourse, delighting 
to enter into conversation with his acquaintances, and 
in our judgment, with a vivacity and intellectual force 
unusual for one of his advanced years; his manners 
being perfectly plain, manly and dignified, command- 
ing from all the most respectful attention. His style 
of Jiving corresponds with his circumstances; frugal 



COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 297 

and strictly temperate in his habits, he always reserves 
ample funds to liberally promote schemes of private 
benevolence and works of public utility. Punctual 
himself to every engagement, he reasonably expects 
from others a strict fulfilment of theirs, and without 
being diffusive beyond his means, his heart is ever 
open to the appeals of charity. In domestic life, he 
blends authority with the care and kindness of a 
friend, always solicitous for the welfare of others. 
His habitual diligence and method were so precise, 
that all the intricate business of his office as Mayor 
of Baltimore were managed without confusion and 
without hurry. During his Mayoralty, the discharge 
of the manifold duties of that responsible office took 
the place of every private consideration, giving himself 
few moments of relaxation, his whole mind being 
employed to faithfully execute his honored trust, so 
that if his political opponents did not approve of his 
measures, they universally venerated his character, 
and relied implicitly on his integrity, believing and 
knowing Elijah Stansbury to be an honest man. In 
political contests, opponents will misrepresent motives 
in order to diminish political influence; yet the moment 
our friend retired to private life, bis political oppo- 
nents returned to their expressions of veneration and 
esteem. The discharge of his official duties indicates 
that he solemnly felt his dependence on an overruling 
Providence ; for in his messages as Chief Magistrate of 
the city, he always gratefully acknowledged the signal 
blessings of a Divine Ruler, having in the year 1822, 



298 MEMOIRS OF COL. ELIJAH STANSBURY. 

being then in his thirty-first year, united himself with 
the Trinity Church, (Protestant Episcopal,) Rev. Mr. 
Bartow, Rector. His punctual attendance in his ad- 
vanced age at an Episcopal church, (the Holy Inno- 
cence,) in the vicinity of his house, together with his 
contributions, bears ample testimony to the sincerity of 
his professions. It is no wonder then that such a man 
is endeared to his neighbors and fellow-citizens gen- 
erally — and the writer of this humble tribute to living 
worth firmly believes that Elijah Stansbury, now in his 
honored old age, has not an enemy in the whole world. 
That his useful life may be still further prolonged 
many more years, is our fervent aspiration, and hoping 
when he is finally gathered to his fathers, that he may 
be numbered among the virtuous and the good — leav- 
ing a memory to be perpetuated for generations yet to 
come. 







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